BXBX NOVEL Chapter 60: | 060 | Operation Hammer of Dawn: Opening
According to current reports, the logistics for the battle had already been prepared and the ground forces were in position. The Echo Fleet was also near the eastern coast of the island, preparing for the bombardment.
"This is Lighthouse 1, observing designated tango. Movements and activities are stable." An aviation officer reported through the radio. It was directly transmitted to the FOB where the command center resided.
*Lighthouse 1, this is Forward Overwatch, copy.* A response escaped the metallic confines of the radio. And many more followed it.
*5 minutes until hammering. Increase altitude and maintain distance to the designated tango. Sustain cautiousness of upcoming bombardment.*
The radio operator from the other side warned the reconnaissance Black Hawks about the incoming bombardment of the designated tango.
*This is Lighthouse 2, directive received!*
*Lighthouse 3, affirmative!*
With the replies from fellow reconnaissance officers, the aviation officer of Lighthouse 1 also responded to the radio operator of the Forward Operating Base.
"Lighthouse 1, following instructions." The aviation officer glanced at the pilot who merely nodded and increased their altitude.
They maintained a distance of 5 clicks away from the designated tango and continued to circle around them while supplying footage regarding the small valley.
Time soon passed and the minutes before the operation felt the longest. Seconds echoed in their minds, seemingly ticking in a slow manner. It was a strange sensation for the recon personnel.
However, their wait ended with the following transmission from the Forward Operating Base.
*This is Forward Overwatch, ETA 30 seconds before hammering. All reconnaissance task force, brace yourselves!* The words of the radio operator resounded throughout the interiors of every Black Hawk circling the small valley.
The aviation officer of Lighthouse 1 looked at his personnel and reminded them of what was to come. "Prepare for the bombardment, hold tight."
Hearing his orders, the aviation personnel held tight into the interiors of the transport helicopter. On the other hand, the officer observed the small valley through the monitor screen.
The static resounded from the radios then were succeeded by the countdown.
*10…9…8…7…6…5…4..3…2…1…*
*The operation has begun.*
One would have expected bombs to explode throughout the small valley when the countdown ended. But everyone heard nothing but silence and their breaths.
Their ears rang from the still silence until bright lights radiantly gleamed from the small valley. The radiance outshone the piercing light of the sun for a mere moment.
And what followed was the deafening explosion that caused the Black Hawks to tremble.
*BOOM!!!* *BOOM!!!* *BOOM!!!* *BOOM!!!*
*BOOM!!!* *BOOM!!!* *BOOM!!!* *BOOM!!!*
The explosions seemed never-ending. Inside the helicopters, the crew held on tightly with all their might trying to not topple down.
While the personnel had their attention on maintaining their stability, the aviation officer had his gaze directly pointed at the monitor screen that buzzed in static here and then.
Dark smoke shrouded the entirety of the small valley as a thin cloud soon formed in its surroundings. It took some time for things to calm down. And when it did, the personnel also had their eyes on the monitor.
None of them spoke a single word as they observed the monitor with scrutiny. When the dark smoke and thin cloud waned, hundreds of black figures charged out of the smoke-covered valley.
The boar-like magibeasts had survived the first salvo of the bombardment. They spread out in every direction, but sadly for them, it wouldn\'t be enough.
*BOOM!!!* *BOOM!!!* *BOOM!!!* *BOOM!!!* *BOOM!!!*
*BOOM!!!* *BOOM!!!* *BOOM!!!* *BOOM!!!* *BOOM!!!*
Unlike the first momentary-radiant explosions, the second bombardment was like an angry erupting mountain. These explosions were brought about by high-explosive shells, causing fires and devastation at the same time.
With the confirmed landing of the second bombardment, the aviation officer immediately reported to the Forward Operating Base.
"This is Lighthouse 1, first bombardment, hit confirmed. Second bombardment ongoing…"
*BOOM!!!* *BOOM!!!* *BOOM!!!* *BOOM!!!*
As the aviation operator reported the status of the operation, shells kept blasting the small valley into damnation. The nest of the magibeasts was barely visible from the sky.
The thick cloud of smoke and dust continued to cover it with their veil.
*Lighthouse 1, report copy. Inquiring status of the designated tango and its inhabitants.* The radio operator questioned the circumstances of the adversaries.
The aviation officer raised an eyebrow and glanced at the monitor screen where the bombarded small valley could be seen.
Beside the monitor screen was the crew of the Black Hawk who were still holding onto the interiors of the transport helicopter. Their helicopter kept trembling because of the shelling, but it was a lot more bearable than the first salvo.
At any rate, the aviation officer couldn\'t imagine the magibeasts surviving the shelling of their battleship. Even if the blast and heat of the explosion couldn\'t kill them, the shock waves would turn their innards into mush.
The aviation officer was about to report the negative status of the magibeasts in the designated tango, signifying their inactivity. However, before he could do so, he felt a tap on his shoulder.
He raised an eyebrow as he was about to make a transmission to the Forward Overwatch. But his annoyance from the interruption stopped as his shoulders sloped downward.
He was shocked. No… All of them were shocked.
In the monitor screen observing the situation below, thousands upon thousands of figures exited the smoke-covered landscape.
Even amidst the devastating shelling, they charged out without care of anything around them. Some boar-like magibeasts even lost their limbs, but they still kept sprinting outward.
The tenacity of the magibeasts surprised everyone in the reconnaissance task force. Their will to live wasn\'t something to be underestimated.
But the aviation officer knew that this wasn\'t the time to keep watching. He needed to report the activities of the magibeasts to the Forward Overwatch.
"This is Lighthouse 1, erratic status observed from the inhabitants of the designated tango. Thousands of them are charging out without care. Our firepower wasn\'t enough."
*Lighthouse 1, say again?* Obviously, the radio operator from the other side was a bit dumbfounded by the recent report from their reconnaissance task force.
"This is Lighthouse 1, our firepower was ineffective. Thousands of magibeasts are escaping the designated kill zone." The aviation officer repeated his report.
*Lighthouse 1 report received. Inquiring for other reconnaissance helicopters\' for their confirmation.* Naturally, the radio operator also wanted to know if others made the same observation.
*Lighthouse 2 reporting, confirmed!*
*Lighthouse 3 reporting, confirmed!*
*Lighthouse 4 reporting, confirmed!*
*Status report has been confirmed. Sending it to the data link.* The truth was unavoidable and the radio operator could only accept it.
With the confirmation of the Forward Overwatch, the aviation officer glanced at the monitor screen once again. The horde of magibeasts seemed endless, making him furrow his eyebrows.
"We have to destroy them." To him, the scale of threat the magibeasts boasts became higher than ever before. He was intent on exterminating them.