TF Amethyst

TFA1 7.11 - Firestorm

While gritting his teeth, Captain Rasser looked at the remains of Lagra City. When he left, Lagra City had not yet received air raids from Buriek's Riders. So he didn't know that the city had now turned to charcoal and ashes. 

Also, there were hundreds of spears in front of Lagra Castle, where the heads of children who were defending city walls stuck on top of them. It took a while before Captain Rasser managed to calm the turmoil in his heart.

"Ser Nate, how can I help you?"

"TF Amethyst is planning an airstrike on Lagra City. We want to know if there are any residents or elements of Sandhur Guard hiding in the bunker under the rubble."

Nate clearly remembers that during an operation, QRF elements found two children hidden under a stable. In the post operation evaluation, a procedure was added to check the possibility of illegal targets hiding in bunkers in the targeted area.

Moreover, not long after that, it was discovered that most Magwurt City's residents had bunkers under their house. Therefore the intelligence from Captain Rasser would be vital in determining the intensity of the airstrike.

After taking a closer look at the display table, Captain Rasser said, "When the outer wall fell, we will build layered defense by utilizing buildings and bunkers, to protect the retreat to Lagra Castle while draining invaders' blood as much as possible.

However, with Lagra City nearly razed to the ground, I think Viscount Issel will choose to concentrate all strength on the city walls and evacuate children under the age of ten into Castle."

Nate nodded slightly. "Thank you, now we can launch heavy airstrikes on Lagra City. Then, we will dispatch ground elements. We hope you are willing to link us with defenders at Lagra Castle."

"It's my honor."

Tears of joy instantly flowed from Captain Rasser's eyes. He had been told that Castle Lagra was suffering tremendous pressure from Buriek Guard. But before he could beg for help, Nate told him that help would be sent instead.

So it was natural that while his tears were flowing profusely, Captain Rasser also started to sob.

--- 

The sun was already setting when 4 units AH-1Z Vipers from Flying Duck Squadron flew over the remains of Robber Brigade's camp. The campsite, located 22 km west of FOC South 1750, had just received a salvo of MTV MLRS 122, with a total of 640 rockets fired in less than three minutes.

The Viper's electro-optics caught small movements in several corners of the camp, but the pilot and master gunner ignored them and continued to head west. The cavalry elements they passed had been neutralized as combat units. Meanwhile, their mission was far more important than taking out a small group of targets who were trying to retreat.

When flying over Levsait, the four Vipers also ignored various tantalizing targets captured by electro-optics and simply flew by.

Since take-off from Davy Jone, there has been no conversation between pilots or conversation with Command Center. The radio discipline was only broken when Captain Russell saw Castle Lagra in the distance.

As the flight leader, Captain Russell immediately gave instructions. "Duck Leader to All Ducks, do you copy?"

[White Duck to Duck Leader, loud and clear.]

[Black Duck to Duck Leader, loud and clear.]

[Red Duck to Duck Leader, I read you.]

"White Duck and Black Duck, clear the opposing concentration 200 meters from the castle walls."

Red Duck, clear the opposing force under the castle walls, the route is clockwise, I will follow from behind, confirm."

[Black Duck to Duck Leader, roger.]

[Red Duck to Duck Leader, roger.]

[White Duck to Duck Leader, roger.]

"Duck Leader to All Duck, take your position and stand by, Duck Leader over out."

Without delay, the four Vipers immediately split towards their target. While flying above the castle walls at an altitude of 3000 meters, Captain Russel saw how defenders at Castle Lagra were desperately trying to hold back Buriek Guard's momentum.

During the briefing, Captain Russell was informed that since this morning Buriek Guards launched three major attacks on Castle Lagra, and would likely break through the castle wall on the fourth attack, which was predicted to be launched after sunset.

Without delay, Captain Russel turned on the speakers and amplifier that were attached to the Viper's belly. TF Amethyst had no other way to contact defenders in Castle Lagra. So direct methods called Loud Mouth mk.2 had to be used.

"Defenders of Castle Lagra, hold your ground! TF Amethyst's close air support came to help."

"..."

"I say again, Defenders of Castle Lagra, hold your ground! TF Amethyst is coming to help."

Captain Russell did not care whether the message he conveyed was received and understood or not. Because the most important thing was the action he would carry out. Therefore, as soon as the message was said, he quickly sent a signal to the other Vipers.

"Duck Leader to All Ducks, weapons free."

[[[Roger]]]

A moment later the four Vipers execute nose dive, while sending a hail of machine guns and rockets into concentration of Buriek Guard.

--- 

Viscount Issel was fully aware that on the fourth attack, Castle Lagra would fall. No matter how high the defender's morale, or how many deadly surprises they prepare for the invaders, in the end the huge difference in number would show its effects.

Every attack from Buriek Guard was always carried out by a fresh unit, while defenders at Castle Lagra didn't have the luxury to rest or rotate. Castle Lagra did manage to withstand Buriek Guard's attack up to three times, but the price was high. The defenders had to lose 8 out of 10 best combatants.

When Buriek Guards launched the fourth attack, Viscount Issel immediately gave orders, if castle walls were breached, then all children and non-combatants inside the castle must take high doses of sleeping pills in order to cross over to afterlife peacefully.

While a small number of defenders would burn the entire castle to cremate the bodies of its deceased occupants, as well as a means to destroy valuables in the castle. Therefore Buriek Guard would only get charcoal and ash.

After that, with body drowned in extreme exhaustion, Viscount Issel led the defense on the castle walls. He was in a deadly duel with a Captain from Buriek Guard when out of nowhere, a loud voice about assistance from an unknown party called TF Amethyst was heard.

Of course, Viscount Issel didn't just believe it. Who knows if it's just a diversion tactic from Buriek Guard, although he also wondered why they did such a ridiculous thing.

But doubt slowly enveloped Viscount Issel, as he saw the big question mark on the forehead of the Captain he was facing. Moreover, not long after that, a rain of fire arrows and fire spears fell on Buriek Guard’s elements who were trying to climb the castle walls, along with the elements that were on standby waiting their turn.

In an instant, Buriek Guard's momentum was cut off. Defender on the Castle Lagra then easily dominated and slaughtered Buriek Guard’s elements on top of the castle wall. With wide eyes and hanging mouths, Viscount Issel and other defenders then looked at the flying object that was spewing fire arrows and fire spears at Buriek Guard’s positions.

In rapid intervals, fire arrows or fire spears would be launched from the chin or wings of the flying object with a silhouette that looks like a dragonfly.

While Viscount Issel was dumbfounded, Baron Ossik who was in charge of leading the defenders on the other side rushed over to him in a hurry.

"Ser Viscount, are they reinforcement from Kingdom of Makai? How come I've never heard a unit called TF Amethyst?"

Viscount Issel firmly answered, "Baron Ossik, I don't know where they came from, but I'm completely sure they are not from Kingdom of Makai."

The attack from the unknown giant dragonfly was indeed very destructive, but it's not sufficient to kill all Buriek Guard's elements around Castle Lagra. Even so, the effect of the surprise attack was more than enough to force Buriek Guard's elements into retreat.

While Viscount Issel, Baron Ossik, and defenders on top of the castle walls were looking at the chaos that had befallen on Buriek Guard, the loud voice that had previously made them wondering non-stop was heard again.

"Defenders of Castle Lagra, don't leave the castle. Heavy airstrikes will be launched on Lagra City soon."

"..."

"Defender of Castle Lagra, don't leave the Castle. Hold tight, reinforcement from TF Amethyst will be here soon."

"..."

"Defenders of Castle Lagra, hold your ground, Lady Erien and Captain Rasser send greetings."

Boom! Boom! BO-BO-BOOOOMMM!

Out of nowhere, explosion after explosion suddenly hit every corner of Lagra City, and in an instant turned the city into a sea of ​​fire.

"Gods who live in heaven are showing their anger."

Viscount Issel muttered as he swallowed hard, while Baron Ossik and the defenders around him could only nod like chicks pecking at rice.

*****