Deployment

Three weeks after Rafael and Yuriko arrived at the platoon, while the entire squad was sleeping in the barracks during the early morning, Sergeant Fernando entered.

"Attention—"

"At ease, everyone. Get equipped and ready outside in 5 minutes."

Without hesitation, everyone started to prepare, and exactly at 01:13 am on a Tuesday, the entire 2nd Company of the 26th Brigade was ready and equipped. That's when the company commander, a captain, stepped forward.

"Gentlemen, at 12:20 Brasília time today, one of the few nations still functioning in Africa, Algeria, experienced a coup d'état. Our mission is to ensure the evacuation of our personnel from the bases in the area. Nothing fancy, no parachute jumps. We will arrive by the Harpias and maintain the perimeter until the cavalry clears the way to the port. And I will say this only once: it is of utmost importance that no equipment is left behind. Anything we can't take must be destroyed until it becomes scrap. Lieutenants, take command of your platoons!"

With that, Lieutenant Oliveira took command of the 3rd platoon and gave the order to embark. He seemed to have just graduated from the academy, barely older than Rafael himself. However, having spent 4 years at the academy, he had much more time in the armed forces than recruits like him.

Entering the Harpia, Rafael couldn't help but marvel at the difference between it and a Pelican. The latter was only used for troop and equipment transport in peaceful zones, while the former was fully equipped for combat insertion and close air support. The global technological leap after the Battle for the Last Line was immense, but it was even more significant for the SAP, as they invested the most troops and equipment. Being in command and largely untouched by the 3rd World War, they were able to explore the alien spacecraft, which was surprisingly well-preserved after the explosions. All traces of organic life had been eliminated, but some of the technology could be salvaged. Based on that, it was proven that the life form that attacked the planet was not the same one that built the spacecraft. With that as a basis, it became possible to develop artificial gravity technology and conduct the first tests of FTL (Faster Than Light) engines. The metallic alloy used in the Harpia and Pelican is one of the new discoveries.

The Lieutenant Oliveira began explaining the mission through the link, without many details, just the basics. The base they had to secure would be in the city of Algiers, a port city. The journey there would take about two hours, so they would already be under attack upon arrival. The rebel forces didn't possess any significant air force, so the Harpias would remain nearby for close air support (CAS) and subsequent evacuation.

"Simple as that. Now, for distribution, our platoon will be responsible for the entrance gate area. As the armored vehicles leave when we arrive, it will only be us and the Harpias. Any questions? No? Okay. Get ready."

Without giving anyone a chance to speak, he closed the link, and each person was left with their squad link. Only the sergeants could access the platoon link for obvious reasons. Almost two hours later, the pilot's voice emerged in everyone's helmet, and the lights turned red.

"Hot zone landing, ETA 5 minutes."

"Check equipment and weapons," the lieutenant's voice reappeared. "Prepare..."

The red lights turned green, and the rear door opened. It should be noted that the interior of the Harpia is extremely isolated because the chaos outside couldn't be seen and heard. With the aircraft still in motion, the lieutenant gave the order.

"Go, go, go! Take positions at the gate! First squad with me, Second squad east of the gate, Third squad west, Fourth on the rooftop of the building to the north!"

Rafael quickly ran to his designated position marked by the sergeant, a small elevation on the sturdy wall, and that's when he saw what was happening outside. Flashes and tracers everywhere. As he crouched down, one of them passed right where his head had been. At that moment, a map with enemy positions appeared, and the cold voice of the pilot sounded again on the channel.

"Target positions marked. Initiating CAS."

From then on, it was a one-sided battle, with aerial targeting and the intelligent system and ammunition of the IA9. It was only necessary to shoot in the vicinity of the target. However, the rebels kept advancing, seemingly limitless. After a few minutes of combat, the lieutenant spoke again.

"Third platoon, the pilot warned of strange movements toward our area, and they appear to be armored. They are interfering with the signal, and he can't be sure. Be pre—"

With an explosion, the lieutenant's audio was cut off. The projectile tore down the gate and went straight into the area where the first squad was positioned. Due to the dust cloud, it was impossible to see who was hit, but through the TacLink, it was possible to see the lieutenant's and one more member of the first squad's vital signs turn gray, as well as the rapidly diminishing signs of two others.

"Column of MBTs heading in your direction, three in total. They appear to be Chinese Type-09s," the pilot said again, as calm as ever. "Initiating CAS."

In the beginning, the Harpia had stayed hovering and methodically using the chin cannon without wasting ammunition, but now, with a low pass using the cannon and rockets, it left a trail of smoke and debris wherever it hit.

"Splash one, two damaged. I'll keep using the cannon, but it won't make much of a difference," said the pilot.

Rafael heard Second Sergeant Ramirez take command of the platoon when a second explosion sounded right beside him, destroying half of the sturdy wall.

"Yuriko!"

"I'm fine, damn it! Shoot those bastards!"

"Where's our anti-tank?"

"With the fourth squad on the rooftop!"

With that, the sound of rushing air passed over both of them and went straight into the nearest MBT, launching its turret as if it were a rocket. However, at the same time, the last one hit the rooftop of the building where the third squad was, causing part of it to collapse. As they were preparing to support them, another sound of rushing air and the last one seemed to catch fire from within, cooking its crew.

Seeing the armored vehicles unable to even enter the base, the rebels lost hope and began to retreat. At the same time, the Harpia prepared to land, a safe path to the port was opened, and the evacuation was almost complete. MedEvacs came to retrieve the wounded and dead. The base would be detonated in a few minutes. It was time to go home.