Chapter 160: | 160 | The A-Team
Above the capital city of Austerus, an MQ-9 Reaper UAV soared over its empty skies, observing the entirety of the city while also looking for its target through the coordinates given by the Sentinel. The Reaper carried a variety of armaments under its wing, perfect for a coordinated strategic strike.
These arsenal were mostly the AGM 114 Hellfire II air-to-ground missiles, GBU-12 Paveway II laser-guided bomb, and a few AIM-9 Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missile. With this amount of armaments in the Reaper, it was no wonder it was feared by many in the former world.
After all, inside the UAV was but a mere computer piloted by a drone operator in the UNS Ceaseless Skies. One can consider it a cold machine of war that can be destroyed with any other consequences than an economic one.
"First Designated Target in sight! Observing..." The drone operator reported, sending the live data footage to the main screen of the airship's bridge.
Captain Himmel gazed forward, staring at the building considered as a stronghold of the rebels. It was already confirmed when several armed rebels entered in and out the building, carrying messages to be scattered throughout the rebellion in the capital city.
With this in mind, he didn't find the need to hesitate. So, after observing it for a short while, Captain Himmel gave the order. "Destroy the stronghold, and head to the next DT."
"Affirmative, Sir." The drone operator responded, looking intently at the building. He took a deep breath and glanced at the release button of the GBU-12. Without any further delay, the drone operator pressed it tightly, beginning the countdown of the reaping death.
The MQ-9 Reaper released its GBU-12 Paveway, a laser-guided 500-pound bomb. It fell from the heavens, piercing through the skies, pointing itself towards its designated target. The stronghold of the rebels continued its operation without knowing the countdown they found themselves in.
After a couple of seconds, the laser-guided bomb punched through the roof of the stronghold, landing directly in the middle of the building as it had intended.
What followed was a not-so-intriguing sight.
In the main screen of the UNS Ceaseless Skies' bridge, Captain Himmel saw a bright light radiantly piercing from the stronghold of the rebels. It even momentarily blinded the camera of the Reaper. Everyone in the bridge observed the live footage with scrutiny.
They looked at it as dust and smoke shrouded the building in its entirety. But it didn't take long for the dust to settle while the smoke bellowed and faded. The stronghold emerged, far from its former appearance, standing as the one of the centers of the rebellion.
What replaced it was a devastated building brimming with rubbles. There was nothing but destruction surrounding it, emanating the power of the GBU-12. Quite a terrifying sight indeed.
"First Designated Target Terminated, Sir!" The drone operator of the MQ-9 Reaper, calmly reported to the commanding officer of the UNS Ceaseless Skies, Captain Himmel. "Rerouting the Reaper to its DT." He continued while piloting the Reaper through a monitor.
"Good, head to the next Designated Target marked by the Sentinel." Captain Himmel was satisfied with the results. The job had been done perfectly by the drone operator, though it was far from over. Luckily for them, however, the rebellion should be easy to deal with.
'Unlike in the former world, no one would be smuggling weapons for them. There is only two paths for the rebellion in the southern colony. Surrender, or death. Only they could choose it, either options, the United Navy wouldn't care.' Himmel quietly thought to himself.
"But I hope that they would be smart. It is for their own good, after all. Nonetheless, they must finish what they had started. And the United Navy wouldn't be so kind to them even if they uttered their surrender." Captain Himmel shook his head and muttered.
The MQ-9 Reaper soared through the heavens, heading towards the coordinates of its second target. According to the intelligence sent by the Sentinel, the second designated target was an abandoned armory occupied by the rebels.
Rebels enter the building to get themselves armed, which wouldn't do good for the SRU Operatives in the capital city. So, it was concluded to be a target for strategic airstrike.
"Second Designated Target in sight! Observing rebel movements surrounding the building." The drone operator reported after arriving in the coordinates of the armory. The live footage was sent to the main screen of the bridge, watched by everyone inside.
As by the conclusions of the Sentinel, the rebels were getting themselves armed through the armory. Its destruction was necessary for the safety of the operatives on the ground. There was no need for Captain Himmel to give further orders.
It must be destroyed, no matter what.
The drone operator observed the armory and slowly pressed the release button of the remaining GBU-15 laser-guided bomb under its left wings. The bomb slowly fell from the Reaper, and was beginning to pierce through the skies.
Captain Himmel and several intelligence officers watched the live footage of the laser-guided bomb falling towards the armory of the rebels. They stared at it intently as if etching the image into their eyes.
The reason for their strange actions was to not let themselves forget about what they had done in the battlefield. It must be remembered for what they had done had taken the lives of others, even if these lives came from their adversaries.
Like the first designated target, the laser-guided bomb smashed through the roof of the armory. It landed directly at the center and what followed was a brilliant light shrouded everything in sight. It was blinding and radiant, but it was soon replaced by dust and smoke.
Several rebels were running away from the explosion, fearful for their lives. It was as though they had been given the judgement of the heavens. As such, some even began praying for their lives, not to be hit by such a bomb.
Luckily for the survivors, though... It was the last GBU-12 under the wings of the Reaper. The strategic airstrike session had just ended. It was a success with a stronghold and an armory in the capital city destroyed into damnation.
This would significantly lessened the pressure on their operatives, while also breaking the network of the rebellion, practically destroying its ability to issue strategies towards the rebels.
"But issuing airstrikes wouldn't be enough to handle the rebellion. We have to directly take care of its leaders." Captain Himmel mumbled while staring at the paper recently given by an intelligence officer. It was a report about an operation which the UNS Ceaseless Skies must give their assistance.
'The Port of Dawn is sending a kill-order for the higher-ups in the rebellion. The SRU 01, consisting of the best of the best, directly and personally trained by the dragon herself, had been sent to take care of them.' He thought as the edges of his lips rose.
"I guess it shouldn't take long before this ship returns to the Port of Dawn." Captain Himmel confidently remarked as these operatives of the Special-Response Unit 01 might be considered as one of the best in the United Navy.
The A-Team
...
Meanwhile, a few kilometers from the northern coast of the southern colony, an Osprey was soaring through the clear heavens with a destination in mind. After interrogation with key-personnel scattered throughout Austerus, it had been determined that the leadership was in the southern coast.
This was its destination.
Inside the Osprey was the SRU 01, a capable unit under the direct authority of the dragoness, Laplace. It has been a while since they left the island of Crescere and headed to the southern colony of Austerus. Yet, the briefing of their mission kept echoing in their minds.
Mercedes sat quietly thinking about the mission briefing beforehand. The fleet admiral had personally met them along with Lieutenant Colonel Laplace, the commander of the Special-Response Unit. The mission they had been given was an important one.
It would end the conflict in the south faster than it would have normally.
'Assassinating the leadership of the rebellion. Intelligence had confirmed their existence and possibly their location. That would be our destination.' She thought to herself, wondering about the complexities of their upcoming mission.
Although it wasn't the first infiltration mission for the SRU 01, it might be the first assassination mission for them. Usually, their lieutenant colonel would be with them. Guiding the Special-Response Unit along the way, now... She would be the one in the helms.
'Behind enemy lines, huh? Just like before.' Mercedes remembered her reconnaissance and assistance mission in the archipelago colony. From what she heard, the Liberation Front was doing well. It shouldn't take long for them to be ready in the final battle in this sea region.
'But I shouldn't be too preoccupied of the past. The present is where I am.' She shook her head and glanced at her men. Espada was with, also in silence, it appears that he was also thinking about the mission they had gotten from the fleet admiral.
With how moody the atmosphere was, Mercedes thought of changing it up a little. She gazed at her men and smiled at them, giving a simple remark. "We will be handling the leadership of the rebellion. Our enemies will be of our own."
"Nonetheless, what do we do with the obstacles of the United Navy?" She calmly asked them, to which Espada answered with confidence. "We stomp them six-feet into the ground."
"Correct, these guys must pay the price for stabbing the back of our brothers and sisters. Special-Response Unit 01, what are we?" Mercedes uttered another question, and every one of her men responded at the same time.
""THE HUNTERS OF THE UNITED NAVY!!!""
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