TF Amethyst

TFA1 7.22 - Interception

Guise Sea, 100 km from south of Amstell Continent. 

11:00, 7 Sept 2025

With advances in technology, flight routes could be planned in such a way to avoid bad weather. But unfortunately, sometimes bad weather cheerfully appeared above the dropping zone. 

In front section of C-130J Super Hercules’s cabin, Captain Kasino and Jumpmaster Luke checked out the situation above the dropping zone through aerial footage from MQ-9 Reaper, and it was not good. All they could see was thick black cloud where lightning and rainstorm danced side by side, encompassing a massive area beyond the dropping zone.

Without turning away his gaze from the tablet in his hand Jumpmaster Luke said, "No one in their right mind will jump into this storm."

“Just look at them,” Captain Kasino said as his thumb directly pointed at the middle section of the cabin where 12 Frogmen were joking around and trying to grab each other butt. "Do they look like people in their right mind?"

"Absolutely not."

"Exactly." Captain Kasino then walked over to the Frogmen before asking, "Who are among you have ever done a combo scuba jump over a sea that's been hit by a rainstorm?"

Simultaneously, all Frogmen before Captain Kasino raised their hands.

"Who has been struck by lightning during a free fall?"

Three Frogmen raised their hands and Captain Kasino immediately smiled.

"Well, my grandmother once said, anything that doesn't kill you will make you stronger. And if it kills you, then it will strengthen your parents. In short, whatever happens there is always a positive value one way or another."

"""Aye Sir."""

"Good, let’s get ready for the jump."

As soon as the Frogmen started the preparations, Jumpmaster Luke immediately took a deep breath, and then radioed the pilot to coordinate the jump. Wasting no time the pilot directed the Hercules to fly directly above the rainstorm. At the same time, Captain Kasino received a radio call from Davy Jones.

[This is XO, Captain Kasino, do you copy?]

"Loud and clear, Sir."

[Captain, I just received a report that rainstorm hit the dropping zone. So I want to remind you, as on-site Team Leader you have the authority to cancel the mission.]

"Black-striped Sharks avoid waters that have been hit by bad weather, so I think this rainstorm will give us an advantage, Sir."

[Yes, but can you bring all Frogmen back?]

"XO, you know I can't promise that."

After a long pause, Vex's voice was then heard again.

[Captain, it's your call, but I will take full responsibility for the result no matter what it is, so do your best.]

"Received and Understood, Sir."

Captain Kasino then turned to Frogmen who were preparing for the jump. "Last chance, who wants to withdraws?"

The Frogmen looked at Captain Kasino for a moment, and then shook their heads in unison.

--- 

The first preparation for the frogman was the medical check-up. Most people think that medical check-up was only been applied to HALO/HAHO jump that was carried out from altitude above 10,000 feet. But actually, a free fall from 8,000 feet also required a last-minute check-up from the flight surgeon.

Therefore, even though the mission only required eight Frogmen, four additional Frogmen were included in the flight. It was to anticipate in case one or more mission executors were declared unfit to do the jump by the flight surgeon.

But somehow, on this mission all Frogmen were declared fit. They then put their individual equipment on, while Frogmen who became the backup wholeheartedly helped their comrades who would execute the mission.

It was no secret that every member of the Frogman Platoon was a high-expert in complex techniques such as scuba and Freefall. However, when the two skills were combined in one infil, its level of complexity would increase tenfold. Not to mention the jump was done in bad weather.

That's why Captain Kasino didn't get tired of reminding his men. "Even though we don't do HALO/HAHO so there is some equipment and procedures that can be passed, the combo scuba jump is still not simple jump, so don't forget the triple checks."

"""Aye Sir."""

A few minutes later, Captain Kasino and the other seven Frogmen had put their equipment on. Starting from the headgear, the main parachute on the back, the spare parachute on the chest, to the weapon strapped to the side of the body.

For scuba suits, diving fins, altimeters, portable navigation devices, and several other pieces of equipment, all of them have been worn directly. While oxygen cylinders, breathing equipment, telescopic-build scooter divers, and explosives were packed into large bags placed in front of both feet.

After the triple check was done, the mission executor then walked to the back section of the cabin with wide steps like a duck.

Before opening the ramp door, Jumpmaster Luke said to Captain Kasino, "It's still not too late to abort this suicidal jump."

"The only easy day was yesterday."

Captain Kasino's answer made the Jumpmaster sigh deeply, but he said nothing further and opened the ramp door. A moment later, by following the Jumpmaster's signal, the eight Frogmen jumped out of the ramp door one by one.

---  

As soon as he jumped out of the Hercules, the first thing that Captain Kasino did was stabilized his body, then orientated in which direction he had to go. In an instant, he knew that he was almost above his dropping coordinate. It was a sign of very deep coordination and skill from the Jumpmaster and the pilot.

Wasting no time, Captain Kasino dove almost vertically, and the cold wind that hit his face grew stronger as he entered the rainstorm area. But he didn't slow down, because the key to getting through the rainstorm was to pass it as quickly as possible.

It was precisely at an altitude of 200 meters that Captain Kasino opened his parachute. However, he didn't feel the jolt he should have, and the speed of his descent was also only slightly reduced.

One of the risks of jumping into a rainstorm area was, the parachute wouldn't deploy properly, and even though he's prepared for that risk, Captain Kasino still got annoyed when he experienced it.

"Fuck!"

After looking at the parachute that was not fully blooming, Captain Kasino activated the float on the large bag between his legs and released it. The large bag then slid down ahead of him. Unfortunately, before he could release the main parachute and deploy the spare parachute, his feet had already touched the water.

SPLASH!!

A tidal wave devours Captain Kasino, and he must fight with all his might to escape the parachute and strong current that drags him down. Luckily, the training and combat experience he underwent for years made his body as fit as a professional athlete, along with an unshakable mental attitude.

Once he arrived on the surface, Captain Kasino calmly took a breath and checked the situation around him. He didn't care about the bruises and pain from the heavy impact on the surface of the sea. To Captain Kasino, as long as his body could complete the missions, it meant everything was fine.

Before long, Captain Kasino swiftly swam through the waves to the large bag containing his diving equipment, and while being played by the violent waves, he put on the oxygen cylinder and other scuba gear, and then deployed and turned on the underwater scooter.

The strong impact when landing did make Captain Kasino lose his HK416D, mag pouch, medic bag, and radio. Even so, it didn't bother him. "At least I can still carry out the mission," 

Captain Kasino then set his sights on the Underwater Scooter's main screen. The Underwater Scooter or DPV (Diver Propulsion Vehicle) used by Frogman Platoon was not only bigger in diameter, faster, able to dive deeper, and had longer range than the commercial variant, but it was also equipped with INS and network-centric which connected to P-8 Poseidon in charge of supplying intelligence for the mission.

On the Underwater Scooter's screen, eight blue dots stretch across an area of ​​3 km, each dot had mission executor callsign. At the same time, 5 km in front of them scattered hundreds of green dots, formed a long column, and each dot was labeled with the type and class of a ship.

"The carrier ship is in the middle of the formation. It will be some time before they arrive. I need to maintain my body temperature."

Captain Kasino then casually opened an MRE and enjoyed it in the middle of the violent wave and rainstorm.

*****