A Symphony in Red
Tuskan City, Giovanni Isle, was known to the military community as an island fortress. The island was surrounded on all four sides by fifty foot cliffs with an ocean that pounded the rocks and shallows at a blistering 45 miles per hour. The dock for the port was extended almost a mile out to sea as a way to get around this problem. Otherwise, all transport to the city had to be done by air. But the reason the island was so important militaristically was because in the Oceanna Archipelago, Giovani Isle could reach all the other islands with regular, land-based artillery. It was considered a centralized military HQ for all operations of whoever controlled the island. But at the moment, it was controlled by a terrorist cell known as Pearl Cell, a radical group that followed the "War for Peace" idea. In other words, kill people to support the idea of not killing people. Now with Giovanni Isle under their control and a lot of artillery, communication, and various other weaponry (par air forces) in their posession, they were making quite a stand in the Oceanna Archipelago. That's when Juko stepped in. Positioned on the farthest south outstrecth of the island chain, Juko was only occasionally pepperred by artillery from Giovanni Isle. But the growing tension was leading the region for war. So it was time to take action.
The Juko military was called into action. The plan was simple: insert a task force into Tuskan City, take key building locations, suppress terrorist actions, and take the city and ultimately the island. The main idea was simple. Twenty UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters would insert an attack group of 400 Juko Troopers into the heart of Tuskan City in various locations. Fifty AH-6 Little Bird helicopters would provide air-to-ground support while AC-130 Spectre gunships would provide major bombing support. Otherwise, it was entirely up to the Troopers. The Black Hawks would provide sniper support and CSAR/Medic operations.
The plan was issued December 19th, 2003.
We join the 6th Carrier Battlegroup stationed in the Sparta Sea, 20 miles west of Giovanni Isle on January 20th, 2004.
The Black Hawks, Little Birds, and Spectre gunships are being fueled up while the Troopers were suiting up. The operation would begin within the hour, landing the men inside Tuskan City somewhere around 2:00 AM on January 21st, 2004.
(OoC: If anyone else wants to join in, it is an open-ended RP... just make up some reason why you'd be intersted in the Ocenna Archipelago [industry, military, whatever] and thne jump in...)
Aboard the S.S. Talisman, About 50 miles west of Giovanni Isle
9:53 PM
1 Hour 37 Minutes until mission launch
Smoke drifted across the still deck of the aircraft carrier as it lay motionless at anchor. Littered everywhere were Black Hawks, Little Birds, and the Spectre gunships, all ready for take off. Not far off, the S.S. Phantom sailed with its turrets facing the quite rock that was Giovanni Isle.
Inside the ship, 400 Juko Troopers were suiting up for the mission. Briefings were going on in various rooms. Check-up calls were heard throughout the hanger. And on the TV in the crew room, the sounds of the Patriots/Panthers game could be heard somewhat over the din.
And in a secluded corner sat Lt. Keller and Sgt. Burkhart. Burkhart's M1 Garand sniper rifle lay up against the wall while Keller's M16A2 lay at his feet. They were going over battle strategies and worst case scenarios.
Outside, it began to rain.
The scenarios would have to get worse.
Aboard the S.S. Talisman, About 30 miles west of Giovanni Isle
11:18 PM
12 Minutes until mission launch
Lt. Keller looked his team in the eyes as the Black Hawk began to raise off the deck. Sgt. Burkhart, on the other side, looked calm as a summer breeze. He gazed out the door, rifle already against his shoulder, his 1000 yard stare seeming to look right into the depths of the ocean. Keller wished he and many other men in the squad had that kind of calmness. He would admit, he was scared. It was a long operation, and an outnumbered one at that. Four hundred Troopers against 1000 or more rebels was a pretty large gap. He shrugged it off and looked down at the ocean as it passed underneath. He looked up into the cockpit to see the lights of Giovanni Isle, mostly Tuskan City, coming to form before him. The Little Birds came into view, pulling ahead of the Black Hawks, getting ready to do a preliminary rocket/mini-gun run. They'd better not get shot Keller thought. They're our fastest exit. Then came the screaming of jet engines as the Spectre gunships streaked infront of the battle group. The co-pilot looked back and said to Keller:
"Two minutes! Drop is in two minutes! Ready the drop lines!"
"Roger, two minutes!" Keller shouted back as he signaled for the ropes to be readied for drop. He looked up at Burkhart. His calmness turned to seriousness. He nodded and looked out the window again, slamming a clip into his rifle.
Keller stared into the city as it began to pass underneath.
Here we go.
Tuskan City, Business District, Building 249
11:36 PM
Objective: Establish Base of Operations
"Go! Go! Go!" Keller yelled over the thwap of the Black Hawk's rotor blades. The twenty members of squad 7, code-name "Tango-Fox" roped down onto the roof of an office building somewhere in downtown Tuskan City, in the business district. Keller hit the roof top just as the Black Hawk pulled out into a holding pattern. He looked down and saw five men setting up a perimeter on the roof top, sweeping the street below for enemies. Once all was clear, Keller ordered the men to move into the building and set up a field HQ. Pvt. Gomez and Pvt. Silvers loaded flash-bang grenades into the M203 grenade launchers on their M4's. Keller's M16A2 was outfitted with a laser-designator rather than the standard-issue M203. With two loud pops, the grenades shot into the doorway. Once the flash was seen from under the door, the men moved in.
The building was empty.
Too easy.
Sgt. Malarkey set up his M-60 in one of the windows while Pvt. Johansen and his M249 SAW took up shot on the other end. Burkhart went to the roof with his rifle, where he felt most comfortable. The rest started setting up an HQ, laying down radio equipment and medical supplies. Sgt. Baker, or Doc to the men, got all the litters off the men and set up a field hospital. Keller tapped Pvt. Andrews on the back.
"Get HQ on the horn."
"Yes sir."
...radio static...
"Here you go, sir."
"HQ? This is Tango-Fox. We have set up a field HQ in an office building in grid-square two-zero-alpha-six."
"Roger that Tango-Fox. Once we get more reports of successful establishments, we will issue your next orders."
"Roger, Tango-Fox out."
Keller turned to his men.
"Alright boys, dig in. We might be here for a while."
(OoC: Feel free to say something... anything... ... ... please?)
Tuskan City, Business District, Building259
12:28 AM
Objective: Dig In
It was about 30 minutes after the order to lay low that the first attack began. Keller had told most of his men to get some rest while he, Burkhart, Malarkey, and Johansen played guard for the night. Malarkey was nodding off at his post when the first AK-47 burst to life. Malarkey, shaken awake, stumbled back from his M-60 and tripped on an ammo box. He leapt to his feet and opened fire. The loud blazing from the gun woke up the rest of Tango-Fox. Keller barked orders to the men, who dashed to any available window to get a shot. Ears were deafened by the roar of Malarkey's M-60 and Johansen's SAW. Over the din, one could hear the occasional crack of Burkhart's M1 rifle. Keller saw Gomez and Silvers launch two grenades down into the street. The resounding booms offered a split-second of calm before the shooting started up again. Keller ran over to Andrews and grabbed the radio.
"HQ, this is Tango-Fox."
"Go ahead."
"HQ, we have encountered live resistance, numbers in the hundreds. We are pinned down in the building. Requesting air support on the street."
"Roger that, Tango-Fox. Have your radio-man relay coordinates."
"Roger."
Keller tapped Andrews on the back.
"Give HQ the coordinates of the street."
"Yes sir."
As Andrews hunched over and began yelling out numbers, Keller turned to his men.
"Alright boys! Incoming air support! Get down when I say!"
After about two minutes, the sound of Little Birds could be heard as they pulled into the street about a mile away.
"Tango-Fox, this is Starfire One, beginning gun run."
Keller yelled back to his men, "Hit the deck!"
The men dove onto the ground as the mini-guns of the three Little Birds tore at the street below. When the rockets started flying, Keller could only remember going deaf and seeing bright flashes. Then it was calm. His hearing returned. He shook his head and walked out.
The street was lifeless, bodies strewn all about the alley.
"HQ, this is Tango-Fox. Objective held."
"Roger. HQ out."