|LANDFALL|
After another very uneventful week has gone by, the expeditionary fleet has finally reached the landing point for the recon team. Much to the delight of Rage team.
As they unloaded and prepared their equipment, Rage team was sent out ahead of time to observe terrain and identify what was causing the black zone.
On their flight over, Rage team discovered many large trails cutting through the trees, creating natural highways for local fauna.
Making note of these for the recon team, they pushed ahead to the black zone, only to be met with a giant pillar of clouds.
They circle around the pillar, ascending along the way to see if they could fly over it, only to be met with a cloud wall all the way up to the thermosphere.
After taking some terrain photos around the pillar, they cruise their way back to the landing point, comparing the data to the map.
The cloud pillar is a match in size to the black zone on the satellite map, much to their surprise as they felt that it was slightly bigger than it seems.
On the way back, Rage team discover a patch of forest treetops shaking wildly. Circling around it and using their instruments to see what was causing it, an explosive shockwave detonates in the middle of the shaking, silencing the whole forest.
"The fuck was that?" Tanker mumbles as he watched in disbelief.
"It takes a one ton bomb to make a shockwave like that." Striker replied in disbelief as well. "All that shaking to sudden stillness. That shockwave should've disturbed something."
"Yeah, well that something is for the recon team to deal with. Just record this and get back to the carrier fast."
Making one last pass, the two jets scream back to the fleet as the wilderness returns to its deceptive peace.
—
"Damn the trees here are tall." Risperton noted as he watched the transports unload onto the beach.
Next to him lay a report from Rage team about what they observed from their first flyover.
A large pillar of clouds, mysterious shockwave, natural highways. All of this information didn't sit well with him.
After a brief talk with the recon team captain, they agreed to have the VTOL craft ferry all their equipment to a point further inland and have them stand-by should the situation go south.
A few barrages from the battleships flattened out a large area for them to land, as well as giving them a large stretch of land between them and the forest.
Currently, the have enough supplies to stay here for two months with a reserve of two weeks should the need arise.
"I hope we can find out whatever it is we're looking for." Risperton mumbled as he took another look at the digital map, last updated a few weeks ago. "There has to be a reason why this is still considered a wilderness by the locals."
"Admiral Vardan said his boys are working on getting more information, but is bottlenecked by the fact that we only have that single city to work with."
As he observed the map with all it's black zones, as well as the report from Rage, Risperton felt that he was onto something but couldn't quite figure it out.
—
"Reaching landing zone in three minutes!" The VTOL pilot yells into the intercom. "Get your gear ready!"
As the recon team conduct their last checks, the VTOLs make landfall on the now empty field and multiple vehicles jump out the backs and into the forest.
"Damn they sure are antsy." The pilot muttered, staring at the tree line where the last jeep disappeared. "Didn't even get to say good luck, they're going to need it."
As the VTOL power down, a small detachment of infantry disembark and set up a small camp and a refueling station.
—
*VROOM*
The rumble and hum of a fleet of jeeps cut through the forest, overwhelming the sounds of nature, scattering the local fauna from their path.
Every so often, the fleet slows down to traverse difficult areas before flooring it again.
"Radio check."
"Good check." * 9
"Solid, our goal is to make it to point two before nightfall, Rage team spotted a small opening that works well as a rest point for us before we continue the journey. Oil-Pig is going to meet us there to refuel us, let's not be late for the party."
"Keep your heads on a swivel. Anything can happen out here, we are the first humans to set foot in these lands, and I want to bring everyone back alive, got it?!"
"Yes sir!" * 9
With radio checks every 30 minutes, the recon team reach point one. The jeeps leave the tree line into a natural trail.
The fleet slows down a little to take in the sight. The trail has enough space for a 20 lane highway with enough room for a traffic road.
"Olive to all jeeps, bring down the speed, proceed with caution. Man the launchers and swap belts to AP."
Putting down the radio receiver, Olive taps the driver of his jeep and proceeds down the trail.
The last jeep in the fleet radios ahead, reporting some local fauna is trailing their group, quite a distance behind them.
"How big are they?" Olive asks as he scans behind them with a pair of binoculars.
"Not that big, prob around the size of a good buck back home."
"Buck?"
"A big ass deer, sir."
"Just say that next time, some of us don't have the chance to try out hunting."
"Yes sir, it looks like a large group of em."
"Ignore them, but keep an eye out, shoot a mike mike if they come within 100 meters of you, got it?"
"(what a waste of a buck) Yes sir!"
Ignoring the quiet complaint, Olive turns his attention back to the front of the fleet, scanning the tree line for anything suspicious.
After a couple hours, Olive makes the order for the jeeps to reenter the tree line at a even slower speed.
"Sir, I think we are cutting it quite close to reaching point two before nightfall. " The navigator of his jeep comments.
"I know, but I can't shake off this feeling of unease, there is something out there watching." Olive responds as he looks through the trees and bushes around him.
"Light some orange flares and shoot em around us." Olive orders 30 minutes later.
Soon after, several punts ring out and orange light fills their surroundings. Once the flares land, several scattered footsteps could be heard as the whole fleet comes to a stop, guns at the ready.
Once the surroundings calm down and the only sound that could be heard were the flares, Olive orders the fleet to continue forwards.
"Sir, I can see a clearing ahead." The driver of his jeep reports, causing Olive to snap his head towards the front.
Seeing the clearing ahead of him come closer, he lets out a sigh of relief. Looking into the now visible sky, he noticed the twinkling of some stars as well as the dying twilight in the distance.
"Just in time. Mortar car! Launch some starlight rounds! Let Rage team know that we reached point two successfully." Olive ordered through the radio, then disembarking in order to stretch his legs.
Observing the clearing, it was a small mound surrounded by the trees, with enough space for the 10 jeeps to line up front to end, making a wall for them to construct camp for the night.
With the starlight rounds shining from above, camp was quickly set up and soon followed by the roar of jets making a flyby, a confirmation response to the light.
"I got first watch!" Olive shouted to his men as they were eating dinner. "Time is 2307, second watch is at 0030! One hour and 30 minute shifts! Squad 2,3, and 4 got second watch. Followed by squad 5/6, then 7/8, and lastly 9/10!"
"Finish eating and hit the hey! We got a long trip ahead of us!"
"Sir, yes sir!" * 9