TFA1 1.7 - The Greatest Victims of War
Operation Control Room B1, 3rd Floor of Main Building, Harley Quinn MOA.
16:05, 31 Jan 2025
After giving the mission executor a short brief, Vex rushed to Operations Control Room B1, and during the last few hours he directly supervised the rescue operation.
"Intel from Sergeant Heinz has confirmed the aerial footage from Reaper. The mounted bandit’s camp is located in the valley that separates Rowane and Lionel Region. Unfortunately, they have transferred their previous catch to Rowane."
Vex scanned the area on the map that Lt. Colonel Julius pointed out before saying, "There's nothing we can do for villagers who have entered Rowane."
Lt. Colonel Julius took a deep breath before answering, "Understood."
"What about the kids in Medic Quarter?"
"Most of them have calmed down, but the smallest few started to cry when they remembered theirs parents. Medic Quarter officers decided to send them home as soon as possible. Some medics will accompany them, and in a few minutes they will take off."
"Have Lieutenant Lambert and his unit guard the settlement tonight, then grounded all air assets that do not participate in the final phase."
"Understood."
Lt. Colonel Julius nodded, while Major Maxwell from Intelligence & Diplomacy Group approached Vex.
"Now, it's only a matter of time before Harley Quinn's whereabouts are discovered. So, can IDG take the initiative to establish relationship with local authorities?"
"I don't mind, but if shit happen and we have to go on an offensive, make sure the motive is worthy."
"Roger," Major Maxwell calmly said before returning to his seat.
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Refueling Station H26, Harley Quinn MOA
16:58, 31 Jan 2025
Major Duran calmly sat in F/A-18E Super Hornet's cockpit, while entering coordinates of the target. At the same time, he also recalled his experience when flying the Super Hornet in Amstell airspace for the first time.
Without the presence of GPS/INS, he could only rely on map, compass, or landmark for navigation. It’s pretty much like fighter pilot from World War II. Once he got lost in direction, it was highly unlikely he would be able to return to the base. Therefore, flights could only be carried out during the day and must not exceed the reach of Ground Control Radar.
As an ex-USAF pilot who used to operate under the flexibility to determine the route's and tactics to be used, Major Duran could not help but felt awkward when he had to operate under Ground Control's direction. Moreover, they provided the instructions and information in analog form.
Gone was the digital and network-centric which had become the foundations for USAF fighter pilots’ combat tactic.
Luckily the unpleasant situation didn't last long. As soon as P-8 Poseidon was in operation, the mapping of Amstell Continent was immediately being done. The entire planet's longitude and latitude have not yet been determined, but the mapping crew did not lose initiative. They just created the latitude and longitude for the basis of Inertial Navigation System (INS) from scratch.
With INS entry to the system, Major Duran and pilots of Flying Puppy Squadron regained their combat effectiveness. One of them was the ability to use JDAM that works using INS/GPS guidance.
While Major Duran and his men determined the route to the target, the ground crew swiftly carried out refueling and switched the weapon package from air cover mission to air strike.
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The weapon package for the air strike was GBU-32 JDAM. It was based on General Purpose Bomb Mk.83, weighing 454 kg of which 30-40% of that weight was the warhead. The JDAM package would be guided by INS with accuracy up to 30 meters. It was less accurate than GPS which had 2-13 meters accuracy. However, because GBU-32 had 80x30 meter lethal radius in the open area, a 30-meter miss was still effective and deadly.
To this day, TF Amethyst had never used INS for offensive purposes, be it for artillery strike or airstrike. Operation Little Guest would therefore serve as a measure for TF Amethyst airstrike effectiveness. The Flying Puppy Squadron's rapid sortie capabilities would also be tested, such as installing weapons and refuel the tank when the aircraft's engine was running.
Rapid sortie was impossible to be carried out if the engine was being turned off. Because once the engine was being turned off, the Super Hornet had to receive total checkup before it could flew again.
The checkup did not only take time, around 8-48 hours depending on the aircraft's age, but also consumed manpower and other resources. This complexity was one of the reasons that gave birth to aerial refueling, which costs much cheaper. When the briefing was finished, the ground grew also had completed their job.
One by one, the Super Hornets then took takeoff preparation, and before long they were already in the air.
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Typically, fighter pilots would approach the target by flying as low as possible to avoid radar contact. However, there was no radar on Amstell Continent, so Major Duran and his men approach the targeted camp from altitude of 30,000 feet or about 10,000 meters, in wide formation.
The high altitude would enable Super Hornet to execute toss technique from longer distance, and with the distance to target was only 40 km away, the flight entered the striking range in no time.
“Three, two, one… Send it.”
With a calm tone Major Duran led his men to lob the JDAM package. And so, 32 units GBU-32 JDAM beautifully made parabolic arch and closing a distance of 30 km in a blink. It hit its coordinates almost at the same time, detonated, and enveloped every inch of the targeted camp with firestorm and deadly fragmentation.
However, Major Duran and his men did not check the results of the attack. They quickly returned to Harley Quinn. Therefore, if the strike didn’t cause enough damage they could immediately carry out another sortie.
The task to check the result of the airstrike was assigned to MQ-9 Reaper, and once the footage for aerial reconnaissance arrived at operations control center, intelligence officers and analysts immediately concluded the target had been completely destroyed.
Vex agreed with the assessment and the plans for second sortie were scrapped.
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Ludwig Valley, borders of Rowane and Lionel Region.
17:26, 31 Jan 2025
"Witchcraft, volcanic eruption, or Flame Dragon?"
Jeffe really couldn't understand what had hit the camp where his comrades were on standby. Because right now, it seemed the place had just been swept away by a firestorm.
Initially, Jeffe was tasked to check the contingent who had previously announced their success via courier and was on the way, but had not arrived even though the sun had fully down in the west. Jeffe truly hates the assignment as leaving the camp after sunset could make him end up in Gray Wolf's belly.
However, he had only been out for 4 km away when a very loud boom was heard, and when he looked back his gaze was greeted by flash after flash that made the night sky flickers. Jeffe then steeled his heart and decided to return to the camp.
When he finally arrived at the camp one thing that came to his mind was. "There is nothing left."
Cold sweat profusely ran down on Jeffe's back as he imagined the entity that turned 850 Sidewick Cavalrymen to charcoal and ashes along with their horses and camp.
"I have to get out of here quick, and report what had happened."
Jeffe muttered before spurting his horse towards Rowane Region. As for his comrades who hadn't arrived at the camp, he assumed that they would never arrive.
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XO Office, 4th Floor Main Building, Harley Quinn MOA.
09:05, 2 Feb 2025
Without knocking first, General O'Neil walked in and sat before Vex. "I've read the report for the rescue mission. The results are pretty good and we haven't lost any assets."
"Yeah, but I failed to save hundreds of villagers who were already brought to Rowane."
"Don't be too hard on yourself."
Vex took a deep breath before saying, "If I tell you one of the kids who got into Medic Quarter reminds me that I have once made a child lose his father.
And to ease my regret, I try to prevent the child from losing his parents through Operation Little Guest, will you regret for giving me the authorization?"
General O'Neill tapped the table using his fingers for a moment before answering, "A philosopher once said that the biggest victim of war is truth, but my experience during my service shows that the biggest victims of war are children.
A few times I helped those poor children, but more often I acted like a coward by hiding behind the rules. So, if you ask me, did I regret for authorizing you to save the villagers, the answer is no. Whatever the reason is, Operation Little Guest also eases my own guilt."
"Thank you."
Vex immediately breathed a sigh of relief. He was burdened by the fact that Operation Little Guest would hasten the potential conflict with the local authorities, but now the burden had lessened a bit.
As he took a bottle of 20-year-old Armagnac from the desk behind him Vex said, "I also want to convert the settlements we help into farmland and ranch. I'll submit the details tomorrow morning."
General O'Neil accepted a glass of Armagnac from Vex as he answered, “You don't need to submit the details.”
"Understood, and cheers."
Vex smiled, then together with General O'Neil he cheerfully took a sip of the Armagnac.
*****
