TF Amethyst

TFA2 11.2 – Action and Reaction

With dark expression, Rolling Panda’s crews looked at the main screen in the cabin. Previously, they witnessed how the fight to defend barracks in the Logistic and Support Area took place fiercely, followed by the brutal fight in the Complex of Ammunition, Spare Part, and Fuel. 

Now, they were watching the last situation in the Buriek Guard Area. With ease, the opposing force stripped down the loots from more than a thousand fallen Buriek Guards.

“They got us this time,” Major Elliat said with a complicated emotion.

“Sir, their entry point is right in the middle of Buriek Guard Area.” By using a red dot pointer, one of Rolling Panda’s crews pointed a hole on the surface, located less than a hundred meters from Buriek Guard HQ. From this giant hole, the opposing force’s combatant poured out massively like a horde of bugs.

 

“No wonder they managed to force Buriek Guard into retreat as soon as the fight started,” said another Rolling Panda’s crews.

“Their number must have reached tens of thousands right now,” Major Elliat added with a grim tone.

Then, the footage in the main screen changed into the latest situation in Tuscan Guard Area. In an instant, Rolling Panda’s crews gasped as they saw the sea of fire covering the entire area. Some buildings also already collapsed to the ground.

“Oh my God…” Electro optical operator covered her mouth before continuing in a whisper, 

“What happened to this place?”

“EO, make sure command center receives all footages we took. Right now, they need as much aerial reconnaissance as they can get.”

“Copy that.” Without delay, EO operator confirmed the connection to Command Center and reported, “Live feed arrives in Command Center without a hitch. What we see, they see it too, Sir.”

“Good.” Major Elliat then approached control panel where Lieutenant Tennet was busy analyzing Battle Group A’s crystal communication network. “Lieutenant, is the music ready?”

“One minute, Sir.” Lieutenant Tennet wiped the sweat on his forehead before continuing, “Simultaneous music for two crystal communication networks is far more complex.”

‘Damn it… If only they use conventional networks, right now Poseidon will already shut it down.’ Major Elliat sighed inwardly before saying, “Lieutenant, I know it’s not easy, but every second count.”  

“Sir.” Lieutenant Tennet replied without looking at Major Elliat, but his tone was full of steel determination.

Rolling Panda was carrying a mission to kill Battle Group A’s crystal communication network in Levsait, Raisait, and their first camp. Initially, not long after Rolling Panda took off from Davy Jones, Lieutenant Tennet immediately found an active crystal communication network along with the right music to kill it. It was an extraordinary achievement, considering that when the takeoff order arrived, he was in the middle of a drinking party and had already half-drunk. 

However, a moment later a Tuscan Guard’s officer who managed to seize a crystal communicator from an opposing force’s advance units reported that the crystal communication network in Levsait was still active. Without delay, Lieutenant Tennet launched a total re-scanning and found the second crystal communication network. It took a while to prepare the second disruption package, but finally it was ready.

A thin smile bloomed in Lieutenant Tennet’s lips before he said with relief, “Music is ready, Sir.”

“Play it.” 

“Mother Jammer in heaven, please help us,” Lieutenant Tennet muttered as he pressed the enter button.

---

Previously, Count Isak had sent the loot from TF Amethyst's personnel to Battle Group A' First Camp. And now, he got the sample of loot from Buriek Guard's personnel.

With great admiration Count Isak examined a short sword. When he stayed at Castle Lagra as a diplomatic guest, he had a chance to study similar short sword. Compared to short sword produced by TF Amethyst, the short sword used by Makai Guard were junk.

Blood, fat, muscle flakes, and even bone fragments easily coated the short sword used by Makai Guard. As a result, it became blunt and Makai Guard's personnel had to swing or stab two times harder to inflict a fatal wound. To restore its sharpness, Makai Guard's personnel must had re-sharpen it carefully, something that couldn't be done while they were in the middle of a battle.

As for Buriek Guard’s short sword, with a single swung the blood, fat, muscle flakes, and bone fragments would come off from the blade. Of course, the proper maintenance was still needed when the user was not in combat.

“This short sword is a piece of magnificent work,” Count Isak said as he put the short sword in his hand back into its scabbard.

“Indeed, Sir,” replied one of the staff officers. “Our combatant reported that by using this short sword, maintaining an instant fatal strike for long duration is possible. Also, apart from Buriek Guard personnel we killed, we managed to secure their armory as we planned.”

“Very good.” Count Isak nodded in satisfaction. “Immediately distribute the loot to our combatants.”

“As your command.”

The short sword was not the only magnificent equipment that Buriek Guark's personnel enjoyed. They also wore lighter but better armor, used rapid-reloading crossbows, and other marvelous pieces of work. And now, that equipment fell into Battle Group A. So, it was natural that Count Isak and staff officers in the command post kept smiling from ear to ear.

With cheerful steps, Count Isak then returned to the big table in the middle of command post. With a calm gaze, he observed the map showing the progress of the offensive on Levsait.

"Sir, their radio chatter went silent a moment ago," reported the staff officer in charge of monitoring the offensive.

"It's to be expected that they try to prevent eavesdropping attempts."

"Understood, Sir."

"How about their first responder? Do they send in another one?"

“No, Sir. Other than around 400 combatants they deployed to the targeted barracks, there is no other first responder.”

“It seems they want to use their card carefully. In that case, we will exploit this opportunity.”

"Sir," The staff officer smiled before continuing, "We already have enough strength to launch the first wave of attacks at the center of Levsait."

Count Isak nodded and then calmly ordered, “Send a message to First Camp. We will begin the first wave of attacks on the center of Levsait. At the same time, we will continue and increase the attacks on the targeted barracks and depots in this area.”

“Aye Sir.” Wasting no time, the staff officer approached one of crystal communication operators. 

However, before he relayed the order, the crystal communication operator reported, “Sir, our crystal communication network just went out."

“Finally, TF Amethyst used the tactics they used on Battle Group B yesterday.”

“We use two crystal communication networks simultaneously, but they still manage to disrupt it,” the crystal communication’s operator said in amazement.

“It’s indeed a marvelous tactic, but it became useless as soon as we know it will come to our way,” Count Isak then calmly ordered, “Deploy our runners to relay the message.”

“At once, Sir.”

---

When there was a conflict between two equally strong parties, victory would roll into the side that had the edge in communication and deployment means, because those two aspects were closely related to the speed of action and reaction in the battlefield. This principle was the main reason why TF Amethyst invested a lot of resources to gain the capability to disrupt a crystal communication network. 

If Battle Group A didn't know the existence of the nasty capability to disrupt crystal communication network, it was certain that at the moment they would experience tremendous chaos, an ideal condition that TF Amethyst needed to increase their chance of success for their counter offensive. 

Unfortunately, sometimes reality on the battlefield didn't flow as expected. The Battle Groups from Kingdom of Makai shared every intel they got on daily basis. Therefore, when Battle Group A attacked Levsait and Raisait, they also prepared some runners to anticipate the disruption to their crystal communication network.

Using a runner was much slower compared to sending a message by using a crystal communicator. However, this method was still sufficient when the runner only needed to run 100 meters before passing the message to the next runner. In less than an hour, Count Isak's message had already arrived at Battle Group A's First Camp.

Prince Makai was hardly able to hide his grin, as he read the message that 15,000 combatants from the first wave were ready to launch the offensive on center of Levsait. At the same time, the combatants from second and subsequent waves flow smoothly. 

The message was a cure for his bitterness, as a few minutes earlier TF Amethyst had wiped out all the contingents that attacked Camp Venom. It seemed that after they knew hostile elements had entered their perimeter, TF Amethyst decided to neutralize any potential danger to Camp Venom. 

And so, they launched their insane artillery strike without reservation. As the result, they wiped out Marquise Orev and all combatants under his command to the last man. 

"Marquise Orev's sacrifice is not in vain. Finally, we have an opportunity to face TF Amethyst in close quarter warfare,” as he tried to calm the excitement in his heart, Prince Makar continued, “Uncle Kalzar, it’s time for Sviek and Rivek Region to join the offensive.”

With a firm tone Duke Kalzar replied, “As your command.”

Without delay Prince Makar’s order was being carried out. A moment later, the war contingents from Rivek and Sviek Region started their march towards Levsait and Raisait.

*****