TFA2 14.1 – Combat Freefall

  When viewed from above, Bluefin Naval Station looked no different from a small sea with a fairly long coastline. And now, almost all coastlines in Bluefin were on massive reconstruction. It was the initial step for construction of shipyard, maintenance facilities, docking port, and Main HQ of Amphibious Ready Group.

  The only area which was free from the reconstruction work was the HQ of Frogman Platoon. However, it didn’t mean the Frogman Platoon just sat idle doing nothing. After receiving a notification that Levsait and Raisait were under tunnel attack, Captain Kasino immediately alert all frogmen who did not in duty to get ready as QRF element. But then, the mission the Frogman Platoon received was far different from what they had expected.

  At the briefing room which basically was a large hut made of palm tree's leaf and trunk, 37 frogmen gathered to receive briefing from Major Fritz through a teleconference.

  "This is Geko-01." Major Fritz said as he pointed a picture of Buriek Navy's cruiser. "We had already confirmed that Prince Portho and Duke Fogel are leading Battle Group B from this cruiser, and your objective is to bring home this two high value figures.

  Based on aerial surveillance, I predict there are around 400-600 elite combatant in Geko-01, including two dozen Makai Royal Bodyguards who will guard Prince Portho with their life. Feel free to neutralize these combatants using the most effective means you can employ.

  However, there are also around 50-100 human shields in Geko-01. Most of them are women and children. If it’s possible, please don’t kill them.”

  After Major Fritz gave him a signal Captain Kasino immediately added, “Instead of regular snatch and grab, we will hijack Geko-01 and bring it into nearest Buriek Navy's forward station.

  And as Geko-01's location is too far for LCAC, SDV, or patrol boat, our only option to reach it is by combat Freefall from Hercules.

  So, if the opposing side refused to surrender even after we secure Prince Portho, we had no choice but to kill him and then fight until the last man.

  Any question?"

  Sergeant Murrel immediately raised his hand, and after Major Fritz gave him permission, he immediately asked, “Why don't we wait until Geko-01 enters the combat range of our LCAC, patrol boat, or SDV?"

  “Can’t do that. We have to stop Battle Group B's offensive before their carriers reach the effective distance to scramble their Riders, or to be precise 400 km off the Sandhur's coastline," replied Major Fritz.

  After a moment of silence, Lieutenant Kidd raised his hand, "Let’s say we failed to achieve our objective and get killed to the last man, what would command center do after that?"

  One of the frogmen immediately rolled his eyes before saying, “LT, please don’t jinx us.”

  “Well, we must be ready for the worst," Lieutenant Kidd casually said.

  After taking a deep breath, Major Fritz said, “In case you fail, Reaper will drop Paveway II on Geko-01, and if it does not stop Battle Group B's advance, we will sink their remaining main ships even if they are protected by human shields.

  We estimates, about 3-4 thousand human shields will die from the airstrike. Perhaps, most of you doesn't care about the fate of those people, and even asks why Command Center sends you into high-risk mission in order to avoid collateral lost.

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  I will not try to make you understand the moral reason behind this operation. I can only say, if any of you doesn't want to execute this mission, please feel free to say it.

  Chief Nate already gives his consent that only volunteer can execute this mission and there is no consequence for anyone who refuses it.

  “Well, you heard it. Let’s decide who will execute this stupid mission." Captain Kasino paused for a moment before continued, “Anyone whose brain still can think clearly, please leave this hut and continue to stand by as QRF element."

  Captain Kasino and Major Fritz then patiently waited. At the same time, some frogmen leisurely chatted, some others yawn lazily, while most of them continued ate their snack. However, not a single frogman left the hut.

  Three minutes later Captain Kasino said, "Well, it's seem too often playing scuba in the depth has damaged your brain."

  """"Aye Sir.""" In an instant every frogman in the hut cheerfully replied.

  Wasting no time, Captain Kasino chose 24 jumpers while the rest of the volunteer took the role as backup personnel.

  ---

  As the strong and cold wind hit his face, Captain Kasino focused his attention on Geko-01. Compared to Buriek Navy's cruiser, it was slightly bigger and longer. However, from an altitude of 6000 feet, Geko-01 only appeared as big as a fingernail.

  Under the dark of night sky and sailing in tight a formation with more than a thousand of ships, it would be difficult for the jumpers to determine the exact location of Geko-01. But fortunately, an engineer from Logistic and Support Group managed to invent a simple target designation.

  By using targeting laser that could be seen by NVG, Reaper would mark the landing point to guide the jumpers. This method worked very well on the trainings and it was also working very well tonight.

  ‘Tonight the sky is covered by thick and black clouds, so they will realize our arrival only when the first jumper land on the ship,' Captain Kasino muttered as he adjust his 'flying' path. His target was rooftop of Geko-01's bridge and he had to approach it from its left side.

  Then, as he got the right path and approaching the right altitude to open the parachute, Captain Kasino's heart suddenly skipped a beat as he remembered that on the last combat Freefall his parachute didn't deploy perfectly.

  After jumping from Hercules, a jumper would fall with a terminal velocity of 128 miles/h if his or her posture was belly-to-earth figure. In this manner, slamming into surface of water was no different from slamming into surface of concrete.

  Meanwhile, Captain Kasino had to minimize the air resistance by employing forward thrust to reaching the landing zone. In this fashion, the terminal velocity would increase up to 200 miles/h. And so, if his parachute didn’t bloom perfectly, it was guaranteed he would land in afterlife. The end.

  Fortunately, Captain Kasino felt a strong yank as his parachute bloomed perfectly. Without difficulty, he then approached Geko-01's bridge from the left, followed by turning sharply and performing the hook and break maneuver. And finally, with a gentle step his right foot landed on the bridge’s rooftop.

  Swiftly, Captain Kasino released his parachute and let the wind took it into the sea. Then, he reached out for his Scorpion Evo-3 strapped in his left thigh, and took prone position on the edge of the rooftop.

  Somehow, the sailors, footbowmen, and ballista crews on the Geko-01's deck were oblivious to Captain Kasino's arrival. Some of them only looked up towards the bridge's rooftop after sailors from other cruisers shouted while pointed their finger over there. Unfortunately, it’s already too late as the other five frogmen already landed and took firing position next to Captain Kasino.

  “Weapons free!” Captain Kasino ordered as he shifted the selective lever on his Scorpion Evo-3 into semi-auto.

  Ta-tatar! T-ta-tataarrr! Ra-tatataaarrr!!

  Geko-01 had a shape like cargo ships on earth, where the bridge was towering high in the rear.

  Therefore, Captain Kasino and frogmen in charge of securing the dropping point had a perfect field of view. They only had to point the targeting laser into hostile's center mass followed by a quick double tap. In an instant, a systematic massacre descended on Geko-01's deck.

  At the same time, bowmen from cruisers on each side of Geko-01 tried to loose arrow at Captain Kasino and his men. However, two frogmen were three second faster in rained down their position with tear gas fired from HK M320 Grenade Launcher.

  It was easy to see that Captain Kasino and his men dominated the fight, at the initial versus contact at least.

  *****

  Note:

  SDV: Seal Delivery Vehicle. It’s basically a mini-sub. Frogman Platoon using the version with three crews, capacity up to 12 fully equipped frogmen, and combat radius up to 260 km in a calm sea.

  Hello author here,

  Well, I had to do something important (sleeping all day, I think) next Saturday, and somehow I managed to finish one chapter today.

  So I will upload it now. Thank you and Best regards.