Part 35: Mission 36: An Eye in the Sky

We had a chance to catch our breath after our success at the mines, and we gladly took it, using the time to replenish our ranks.



Perhaps not surprisingly, it turned out that our friends weren't the only ones talking about our accomplishments. News of our crucial role in the victory were spreading. Orcs who had survived battle with us whispered of our unstoppable armored assaults. We were reaching the point where just the prospect of facing us was enough to spread fear in the enemy's ranks.

Our reputation wasn't without its drawbacks, though. We would soon be facing specialized squads, fearsome magical warriors wielding power even beyond the wizards and hell riders we had already fought against and won. Even now, the Forces of Darkness had not yet played all of their cards.



But neither had we.



Alliance engineers announced the completion of the first successful prototype battlesuit, the culmination of hard months of tireless work among our engineering teams.



Every available resource we could spare was put toward combat testing them. This could very well be one of the most important new weapon systems of the war.



Finally, the last few kinks were worked out of the design, and small-scale fabrication was ready to begin.

The infantry battlesuits, the result of a team of some of the world's best engineers, would drastically improve both the life expectancy and damage capability of our infantry in the field. Tanarit armor gave protection against shrapnel, projectiles, and small arms fire alike. The insulation layered between the Tanarit plates protected from both fire and electricity, neutralizing some of the enemy's most dangerous spells. The suits came with integrated 25mm chainguns, the enhanced strength they offered making the guns no more difficult to wield than assault rifles. The suits also had friend-or-foe identification integrated into the HUD overlays of their visors, thanks to image recognition systems that far surpassed any other software developed for the purpose.



We were all eager to try out the new battlesuits in combat, but unfortunately, that couldn't happen just yet. We had another urgent assignment. The russians had informed us of a satellite comms station to the west that had fallen early in the war. If we retook it, we could regain control of it and use it to get recon on the enemy. The Forces of Darkness hadn't discovered the installation's importance yet, but it was only a matter of time before they did, upon which they would undoubtedly destroy it. We would need to clear a path for a few Russian information systems experts, along with a commando squad who would escort them. They recognized the importance of this mission - success here would mean intel that could very well prevent catastrophe in the future - and sent their very best.

Mission 36: An Eye in the Sky

Attending:
Lazarus (Forlorn Hope, Flamethrowers)
Habitually Red (Sane Max's Own, Flamethrowers)
Solrick Skaft (Scion of Emer, Flamethrowers)
T. Hinman (Ethereal Corps, Flamethrowers)
Logan "Hardtack" Smith (War Dogs, Paranormal Infantry)
Joe Moore (War Boys, Paranormal Infantry)
"Doctor" Snark (Mage Killers, Commandos)
Patrick Gallagher (Just In Time, Elmag 1)
Svetlana Aliyev (Rusalka, Elmag 1)
Mael Radec (Radec's Rhinos, M1 Abrams)
Erik Spanner (The Toolbox, M1 Abrams)
James "Griff" Griffin (Party Crashers, M1 Abrams)
Basil (Paladin, M1 Abrams)
Jorji Costava (Cobrastan's Best, M1 Abrams)
Isara Gunther (Edelweiss, M1 Abrams)
Reginald P. Linux (Doom Squad, Leopard 2A5)
Aethereon Darkfyre (The Mary Sues, UDES)
Stephen Smith (The Counts of Monty Python, UDES)
Anil E. Hilated, Esq. (Polite Obliteration, M106)
Grand Inquisitor Solaus (Balkanian Inquisition, AMX-30)
Gregor (The Swell Swords, AMX-30)
Michael de Boulogne (Chivalric Order of Saint George, AMX-30)
Cholmondely Featherstonehaugh-Smythe (Sphinx Battery, Roland)
Billy John (The Truther Squad, Roland)
Sigrún Raske (Skysmasher Brigade, Roland)
Billy Mays (Infomercial Men, Humvees)
Atom ikk Rab (Those From the Depths, Universal 1R)

Auxiliaries:

Roman (Science Troop)



It was a pretty routine start. Our scouts went forward first.



So did the enemy's.



Roman's platoon trailed behind the others. I didn't doubt they could've tangled with the worst the enemy threw at us, but the outcome of the entire mission depended on their survival.



Then we found the wall.




Atom ikk Rab: Huh, that's weird. Usually don't see mags charge en masse like that.



Griff: There's a good reason for that.
Atom ikk Rab: So, the wall. We blasting it, or going around?



Jorji Costava: Ha ha, answer is always the same!



Atom ikk Rab: Hold up, guys. Let's get a closer look before we charge into the unknown.



Atom ikk Rab: It's clear! Just a couple of mags if you want the target practice.



Cholmondely: It's always important to hone one's skills. Not that those fellows tax them much.




Atom ikk Rab: Nothing coming to flank us.



Atom ikk Rab: Doesn't look like we'll need to end up smashing that wall, though. The satellite station is just west.



Basil: Oh, sure. Now you tell us.



Stephen Smith: Guys, we got bigger things to worry about!



Griff: We've got the numbers! Let's roll these tro-



Billy Mays: BUT WAIT, THERE'S ELVES!



Joe Moore: A problem that's just been solved.



Anil E. Hilated: We get to knock down this wall, right? It's the only thing between us and the station!
Li Yong: Well, there's an opening on the other side, but we'd be exposing ourselves more than we have to. Better to blow a hole on this side.
Anil E. Hilated: That's my kind of thinking.



Billy Mays: KEEP WATCHING AND SEE HOW THIS BASE'S REVOLUTIONARY SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY SAVES YOU HOURS OF TEDIOUS RECON WORK!



Stephen Smith: Looks clear.



Stephen Smith: Oh wait, actually it... might as well still be clear really. It's just keebs.



Gregor: Give Gregor a real target!



Stephen Smith: Looks like they're going for saturation.




Solaus: Just means they die faster.



Atom ikk Rab: Let's see if anyone's coming to take our prize back.



Atom ikk Rab: Not picking up any movement. Looks like the area's secure.
Aethereon Darkfyre: It appears so, yes, but who can predict when death will sink its cruel claws into us?
Atom ikk Rab: Me, 'cause I've got the radar!
Mael Radec: Then let's advance, but carefully. We can't be sure the rebels will be able to do their work until the area's clear.



T. Hinman: You heard the hu-man! Everyone, move from tree to tree, and watch your backs!



Michael de Boulogne: We've just set up our guns in front of the station.
Roman: And we're at the front door now. We'll start setting up.




Stephen Smith: Taking fire, taking fire! I can't see where it's coming from!
Erik Spanner: The hell? We've got vision all over! They shouldn't have anything that can shoot far enough to hit us!
Isara Gunther: Well they do, hurry up and find it!



Billy Mays: YOU WON'T BELIEVE THE RANGE MECHANICAL MAMMOTHS GET, LITERALLY!



Anil E. Hilated: They might be able to shoot that far, but I bet they can't see that far. Just killed their spotter.




Gregor: Aha, foolish mammoth has come where we can hit it!



Michael de Boulogne: It can hit us too! I'm down four guns!



Gregor: Is not only thing!



Svetlana Aliyev: You know, I liked it a lot better when these guys didn't have anti-tank weapons.



Billy Mays: BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE!



Solaus: Took out the Mammoth, that had the longest reach. Kill the trogs before they close in!



Gregor: With pleasure!



Patrick Gallagher: Shit, you didn't get them all! Help Billy!



Habitually Red: Got 'em! Good to see our flamers aren't obsolete yet. Let's see what else is out there.



Billy Mays: PALISADES, PERFECT TO FENCE IN YOUR YARD OR GARDEN!



Billy Mays: CALL NOW AND WE'LL THROW IN SKELETONS ABSOLUTELY FREE!



Billy Mays: AND WHILE YOU'RE THERE, CHECK OUT OUR TANKS!
Mael Radec: Alright, Billy, draw 'em here. The rest of you know what to do.



Lazarus: Just like old times.



"Doctor" Snark: Sometimes I wonder if those things will ever get close enough to shoot us.
Mael Radec: I don't think they will, as long as our scouts do their job. Alright everyone, fan out. There's probably still more lurking out there.



Billy Mays: IT'S A MAGIC WELL TO POWER ALL YOUR BEST EXPERIMENTAL WEAPONS!
Solrick Skaft: Huh, there was a magic well here? Good thing we attacked here.



Billy Mays: IT'S YOURS JUST AS SOON AS THE PREVIOUS TENANTS LEAVE!



Anil E. Hilated: Then let's arrange that.




Solaus: Next!



Stephen Smith: More of them! Coming at us through that hole we blasted in the wall earlier!
Aethereon Darkfyre: Truly, the spectre of our past callousness to innocent concrete has come back to haunt us.



Solaus: It's a good thing we know how to bust ghosts, then!



Griff: Looks like we stirred up a group of 'em.



Anil E. Hilated: I'll fire as many times as I have to.



Michael de Boulogne: Hold on, gotta get closer. Our guns can't quite reach that far.



Griff: Rocket fire! Good thing they have to thread the gap one at a time. And that none of them have figured out flanking.



Stephen Smith: Getting a bit cramped here!



Griff: Wow, guys. Learn some squad-level tactics!



Mael Radec: Dealt with. Let's keep moving!



Griff: ...There's always just one more, isn't there?



Mael Radec: Not anymore.



After the bloody battle at the mines, this mission came as a welcome relief. The enemy had evidently concentrated their forces around priority targets such as the mines and the resistance base, leaving a relatively small force to guard the left flank.

The engineering team was able to access the computer systems and interface with the satellite without incident. Within an hour, we'd have pictures coming in, aerial views of the enemy's positions to the north. With this knowledge, we'd plan the next attack. Among our forces would be the Alliance's first battlesuit platoon.