TF Amethyst

The 12.7 mm M2HB on the M1151 Humvee were pintle-mounted on the roof and operated manually. It used a combination of tracer and full metal jacket round, so the Gunner could see the trajectory of the shot and correct it without needing to aim through the iron sight.

But the most important thing was that the Gunner of M1151 M2HB truly understood how to use the heavy machine gun to kill a giant bird.

From their rich experience in taking down Black Eagle, they knew that to take down and immobilize a giant bird with high vitality, a heavy shot to destroy their spine and the nerves attached to it was a must.

The Team Leader of M1151 M2HB Platoon calmly radioed his men, "You know the drill and you know what happens if you execute your job sloppily. So, make sure you destroy it properly if a Cloud Hawk falls inside perimeter."

[Roger!!]

[Understood!!]

[Aye, Sir!!]

[Got it.]

 ….

 ….

The platoon members replied firmly one by one, while unpleasant memories flashed through their minds. Two months ago, a Black Eagle managed to pass through the AA Defense in Davy Jones, and a unit of M1151 M2HB failed to kill it as soon as the Black Eagle fell within Davy Jones' perimeter.

Even though the Black Eagle had lost one of its legs and its body was full of holes like a Swiss cheese, the giant bird was still able to drag its body at a speed of 60 km/h and entered a Maintenance Depot in the middle of rush hour.

The Black Eagle then thrashing around in a half-dead state for six minutes. As a result, 14 units Humvee, 4 units 5-ton MTV Truck, and 5 units recon motorbikes were destroyed. But the biggest loss was, 21 mechanics and 6 administrative personnel from Logistic and Support Group were killed in the process, while dozens of others suffered serious injuries.

As determination filled their gaze, the Gunners of M1151 M2HB looked at the approaching Riders, and then placed a high aim before pressing the butterfly trigger and launched a 5-round burst repeatedly.

Dum dum dum!  Dum dum dum!  Dum dum dum!

Slow but heavy 'Bang!' from M2HB was heard continuously as 12.7 mm projectiles shot towards the incoming eight Riders. The aim was too high, so the first salvo only passed the empty air in front of their targets. However, the M2HB Gunners only needed to slightly lower their aim, and in an instant the eight incoming Cloud Hawks were hit hard in the chest.

The unfortunate Cloud Hawks immediately fell to the ground, rolling around, and crushed their Rider along with some mercenaries who were advancing towards the outer wall. These Cloud Hawks were still alive, but they couldn't get up no matter how hard they tried. In the end, they could only weakly tweet 'Piek… piek… piek!' as they waited for their dead.

---

First Camp of Battle Group A, 2 km north of border fence.

From the 3rd floor of a barrack, Prince Makar watched the stream of infantry columns move to the south like a giant river. Then, as he went back to the strategy table in the middle of the room, he asked, "Uncle Kalzar, how is our ground element progressing?"

"Only 100 meters left, once our ground element reaches the outer wall, this camp is as good as ours," Duke Kalzar said cheerfully.

"But they still haven't used their artillery." Prince Makar took a deep breath to calm uneasiness in his heart before continuing, "Even if they can't use it to attack our camp, it's still feasible to use it to stop the momentum of our offensive."

"Maybe they wait until our ground element reaches the wall before using it to make a massive sweep."

Prince Makar immediately shook his head. "No, it will be too late to use artillery after our ground element reached the wall, and I'm sure they fully understood this circumstance."

"Well, for now our only option is to keep pushing forward."

"Yeah, I know. Let's send the second wave of Rider then."

"Understood."

Duke Kalzar nodded and the scramble order was immediately sent.

---

Third Camp of Battle Group A, 23 km north of border fence.

Smoothly, 120 Sviek Riders from 12th Air Brigade took-off and went straight up into the sky. At the leading position, Brigadier Sherk grabbed his crystal communicator before giving the order to three Captains under his command. 

"Remember, we only need one Rider to make a long sweep on the wall using Cloud Hawk's claws, and a wide opportunity would appear before our ground element."

[Sir!!]

[Sir!!]

[Sir!!]

As a satisfied smile bloomed on his lips, Brigadier Sherk led the formation of 12th Air Brigade soaring west. His plan was simple. He would approach the targeted camp from the grassland in the west at super low altitude, about 8 meters above the ground. Therefore, enemy air defense wouldn't be able to take aim because their line of sight was blocked by outer wall.

Of course, flying in super low altitude was extremely dangerous. They had to reduce their speed and would become an easy target for opposing Rider. But if the approach was successful, then the collapse of opposing defender on the outer wall was inevitable.

'In the conflict with Kingdom of Buriek I had to withdraw before I could take any action. But finally, my time to shine has come,' Brigadier Sherk muttered inwardly.

---

Command Post, FOC Venom

"The fuck..." Colonel Glass cursed as he observed 120 blips on the display table, which flew over the mountain ranges 50 km west of FOC Venom.

"It seems like they are targeting the west outer wall again," Major Kimber said.

"Yeah, and they must have received intel about our Air Defense's effective range and angle of fire from the previous Rider."

"Do I need to shift the Air Defense Element from the other outer walls?"

"No, let's ask Castle Lagra if our aerial assets can ambush and reduce these incoming Riders."

"Roger."

Without delay Major Kimber then sent a request of assistance to Castle Lagra. At the same time, Colonel Glass turned to display table showing the ladder carriers' advance, and he reflexively sighed several times.

---

Airspace above FOC Venom, altitude of 10,000 meters.

Four F/A-18E Super Hornets quietly fly side by side, circling around FOC Venom in a loitering mode. Each Super Hornet was armed with two AIM-9X Sidewinders, four AIM-120C7s, and two GBU-16 Paveway II.

The four Super Hornets were part of Winter Flight. Their main mission was providing immediate Close Air Support to friendly ground elements.

Inside cockpit of Super Hornet in the middle, Major Gilmore was observing the offensive to FOC Venom through a multipurpose liquid-crystal display when a radio call came in.

[Castle Lagra to Winter One, do you copy?]

"Winter One to Castle Lagra, solid copy, go ahead."

[Winter One, you have an interception mission, the target is 44 km west of your position. Cut their number down as many as possible.]

"Roger." As he glanced at the dozens of blips in the radar screen Major Gilmore asked, "Do we have intel on the target?"

"I will send their profile, coordinate, and their possible route to your database.]

"Received and understood, Winter One out and over."

Wasting no time, Major Gilmore turned on the Combat Management System, and the live-feed on the full color multipurpose liquid-crystal display instantly changed into a giant map.

As he waited for the intel he needed to calculate the firing solution for AIM-120, he radioed his flight members, "Winter One to All Winter, you heard the order, so be ready."

[Roger.]

[Roger.]

[Roger.]

With a distance of 44 km, not much time was left to determine the most ideal ambush route and firing solution. So, Major Gilmore handed all the calculations to computer.

A moment later, four Super Hornets under Winter Flight banked to the left calmly. They flew westward at the lowest possible speed without lowering altitude, and were ready to launch every AIM-120C7 they carried. However, before any AIM-120C7 got a radar lock, dozens of blips on the radar screen suddenly disappeared one by one in rapid pace.

'The Fuck.' Major Gilmore immediately switched the Super Hornet's radar into a short-range sweep, but there was still no radar contact at all.

Wasting no time, Major Gilmore radioed his flight members, "Winter Two, stays in long-range mode."

[Roger.]

"Winter Three, switched into short-range sweep."

[Received and understood.]

"Winter Four, use your IRST."

[Got it.]

"Winter One to All Winter, I will use visuals, and let's find our target ASAP."

[Roger.]

[Roger.]

[Roger.]

With great vigilance, each member of Winter Flight searched for their target. However, until they arrived in the location where they supposed to meet with their target, they still had not found the flight of opposing Riders.

"Winter One to All Winter, let's split up into two combat flights and make a big circle sw--."

Major Gilmore didn't finish his words, as suddenly he saw a group of Riders glided out from a narrow gorge. They flew very low over the grasslands, in five tight lines of 150 meters long. At the same time, his flight members reported.

[Winter Four to Winter One, Tally Ho, they are below us, grassland at 10 o'clock, heading east at 60 km/h.]

[Winter Three to Winter One, my Sidewinder on the left got solid lock on, ready for green.]

[Winter Two to Winter One, do we change to heat seeker?]

"Negative, let's change to Paveway II."

[Roger.]

[Roger.]

[Roger.]

Wasting no time, Winter Flight immediately made a big circle before approaching the flight of opposing Rider from south, and then dropping four GBU-16 Paveway II covering the leading Rider to the Rider at rearmost at 40 meter intervals.

The GBU-16 Paveway II had an effective range of 14.8 km. It was laser guided and several times had proven to be capable of hitting fast boats that traveling at 80 km/h and performing zigzag evasive maneuvers. Therefore, hitting a target flying straight at low altitude at a speed of 60 km/h was an easy task for the smart bomb.

Moreover, the targeted convoy was not aware that four smart bombs each with a thermobaric explosive weighing 180 kg were freely gliding towards their position. The last thing that Riders of 12th Air Brigade saw was a blinding flash before their consciousness evaporated along with their bodies.

After getting an air refueling, Winter Flight then returned to their parking lot above FOC Venom, flying in loitering mode and ready to take the next mission.

Actually, the Command Center at Castle Lagra stuttered when they received a report that all incoming Riders had been eliminated, but they refrained from asking questions until Winter Flight returned to the base.

*****