Chapter Text
=================
"3-7 Alphas. Greenlight to Checkpoint Whiskey." The voice spoke through the speakers. As I look down at the clear sky below and sees nothing but smog and desert. Everyone around me is somewhat nervous. We're dropping into a warzone.
"Are you guys all ready!?" I screamed at the soldiers inside the Osprey.
"YES, SIR!" The soldiers screamed back in agreement. But I can safely assume that they are still somewhat nervous about the thought of fighting down there with our lives on the line. You may be asking, isn't that what they signed up for? In that, I would answer: Yes. They're doing it for our country.
But realize that all of these people. My brothers have come from all sorts of livelihoods. Different backstories. Different reasons on why they joined this grueling, mentally exhausting job. Helping their respective families, to prove to themselves, and a plethora more of reasons on why they joined.
But there's one thing that ties them together no matter the backstory, the ethnicity, and moral code... They're here because they're patriots and want to protect our country.
"Wild Hogs! Greenlight!" I shout to my microphone, to signal my comrades that they need to jump despite if some of them are afraid of heights.
One by one, they all jump off the Osprey, and the speaker said that we need to hurry up because the Rally Point is getting farther and farther away from the plane's position.
One young soldier though was still hesitant to jump off the plane. And I'm not having any of that. So I walked up to the hesitant Private and told him:
"This is the real thing now, how about we go together? I push you off first?" I told the soldier playfully, but he didn't take it that way. And he was stuttering on his words and the voice behind the speaker had enough of us two and demanded us to jump off.
"Are we gonna be okay, Commander?" The young blood asked me. Wanting some reassurance. But I can't promise him that. This is war after all.
"We hold our own fate, and I have your back no matter what. So go get them!" I pushed the young soldier towards the clouds.
My name is Edrich Caster. Commander of my own task force named Wild Hogs. And we're going into hell. And just call me "Caster." I jumped off the Osprey last and we can't turn back now.
"Find your assigned buildings! We're escorting the VP codenamed: "Sun." I told everyone on the radio. "Time to kick ass! Hoorah?!"
"HOORAH!"
=================
"Great mission there Edrich. We are lined up for another big mission tomorrow, and this is the operation in order to win this war." A higher-up told me.
"No need for briefing, sir. I already know the mission." I told him which he made a confused face.
"Really? The intel sure spreads too fast. Plus, you've been on the field risking your life for the last 3 missions now. Are you sure that you aren't going to stay behind and command your task force that way?" Another question full of concern, I chuckle it off, just like I always have.
I didn't really answer the question. But it was a... Awkward interaction to say the least. But I walked away from the conversation leaving my higher-up... Waiting. Waiting for a response to that all-important question. In which I haven't answered since I became a Commander. To any other commander, it would be a sure-fire 'yes' but I really can't answer that. Not right now, not later, not in... Forever.
"The... sky..."
I looked at the warm-colored sky and pondered about my time before this. Then I walked to my left and continued walking while still looking at the sky. It was a rough, rough road before I got here. I lost both my parents from a disease that even the best doctors couldn't find a cure for, my sibling went on to go to Europe and decided to stay there, and I have no friends outside of the military. It's sad.
I also lost many of my comrades from battle, and some of them died in unspeakable ways that absolutely break the rules of the Modern War. Biological weaponry, unethical practices, and much more unspeakable ways that the enemy would reign their terror to people to make an example.
On the bright side, my friends in the military treated me like a normal soldier. Which was really rare for most militaries. A commander shouldn't really be hanging out with the Privates and Sergeants and all those lower ranks. People may judge me for it, but I really couldn't care less. They made me feel something. Something that everything will get better after this war.
But this war has been going on for 8 months now. And either side is scared of casualties, collateral damages, and military budget running out. Diplomats from both sides talked it out in a convention but either side couldn't agree on terms that were very bias amongst neither side. But the longer the war took, the land, sea, and air they were fighting on, would be very decimated by the damage done from both sides.
And honestly, I just want this war to end. This was 100 times worse than WW2. And we got a chance to do just that. The intel that was given to me by one of our informants is the enemy is trying to get a critical chemical lab in Switzerland that would make biological weapons and maybe nuclear warheads. The time was 1800 and we need to get out of here at 0500. So I need some precious sleep now.
"I guess sleeping is the best thing to do..." I sighed before walking back to my own private room at the command center. It was nice, sure. But I have only started sleeping in this private room for like... 2 weeks. I was sent very late here since I had other missions to other places that I had to partake in.
But I laid down on my bed and immediately slept. Getting ready for the big mission tomorrow...
=================
"Alright, people move, move, move!" I told my still tired soldiers to rush into the helicopter. Which they did it in a timely manner. And we immediately took off.
"Bro, did you eat something before going out?" One soldier told the other fellow comrade. In which I spoke up.
"Did you guys not eat anything before going out?" I asked in worry. They need energy just to fight and keep themselves alive here. And I'm not putting them in battle if they're tired and hungry at the same time.
I woke up at an early time at 0350. I got a lot of time to get some breakfast, take a shower, etc. I ate a complete meal at the cafeteria just outside of the command center. As I have been observing since my task force got here is, the normal soldier's rations aren't big as compared to the other bases I've been into. I looked on the supplies, no much to see, food ingredients, not much to see either. So, using my Commander status, I tried to request supplies to be brought here.
Much to my disappointment, It didn't come at all. Saying that the supply lines had better bases to supply rather than this one. That's such a weak excuse. Soldiers are hauling their asses and not get serviceable meals?
"Alright, good thing I brought some food with me. I had a feeling this would happen anyway." I grabbed some bread sandwiches that I made for myself before going out in case I got hungry. I made 5 sandwiches in fact.
I gave the 2 hungry soldiers 2 of my sandwiches. And which some other soldiers barge in to get at least one of them. I told them that I only have 2 sandwiches left, so I gave one, but they need to share it. I'm still hungry by the way, so not gonna risk the last 2. This will make a good lunch if the mission goes as planned.
"We're in Swiss territory now, and we're close to the target building. Well, rappel into the building and clean out the roof and the upper floors. And the assault team will come in."
"Rules of engagement, sir?"
"Red."
Kill everything that moves. Everything in this building is hostile, and armed to the teeth. We haven't been quiet in our approach, so they will be expecting us. And we absolutely can't go slow or else we trigger something horrible that could get all my men killed.
We saw more helicopters behind me as I look out and feel the fresh air. And I know it's a bit reckless. Might fly off the helicopter and land on my ass broken. But I have been used to this.
"ETA, 6 minutes... " The co-pilot said through the mic into our headphones.
The day I've been waiting for since I started being deployed is finally here. This is the one and only chance to stop them from taking over Europe. And finally, to end this proxy war.
=================
We made it and it seems there's minimal personnel on the roof and our snipers on each respective helicopters including ours took out the soldiers on the roof. Damn, they're still accurate even being inside of a moving vehicle. Those were not easy shots.
The helicopters flew over the roof and as the soldiers pulled down the ropes to the ground, the enemy already found out and started shooting at the glass breaking it and trying to shoot us down.
"Alright, fan out, and clear your corners. We need to cover our snipers for them to assist us in capturing the base." As my men started to move towards the door.
We got down the stairs and we gunned down the tangos. Then I would notice over the crates of chemical material, there was a Juggernaut moving towards us.
"Juggernaut incoming! Spread out and get some heavy ordinance on him right now!" As I throw a C4 on the Juggernaut and blew it up.
The enemies were just dropping like flies and gave us the freedom to keep our attention to the Juggernaut that is still wreaking havoc all over us. Which he already took out some of our snipers.
Our demolitions team kept bombing the Juggernaut and with some more explosion and a healthy dose of tinnitus, he finally went down.
"Demo team, place traps for the reinforcements coming here soon."
And the demolitions teams went at it and placed tripwires that connected to a grenade. As my men got in there and we captured some of the scientists inside the main labs. The assault teams are yet to come.
The first skirmish ended so soon, so I asked the higher-ups on where in the hell is the assault teams?
"Commander Caster, the assault teams are on their way, they're met with moderate resistance, over. Keep the base occupied until they arrive. Capital 2 out." the radio stopped.
I groaned... it's a minor inconvenience, my teams know and the sniper team that we basically captured the lab. With almost no casualties on our side.
So planning to take initiative, I told my soldiers that who was with me, to guard the roof if they're planning to take the lab back.
The laboratory was surrounded by some trees that make the march of the enemy's reinforcements much easier. Then I got a sitrep from the assault team.
"We got fatal casualties here, Commander! But we got the package secured and we're getting to the lab now. ETA, 3 minutes out." A lieutenant said with him breathing heavily from exhaustion.
"Alright, do you take out the enemies around you?"
"We did, sir. But we lost 2 APCs. My men are 50% KIA."
"Alright, if we see you, just scream the call sign and the sniper teams won't fire at you."
"Thank you, Commander Caster, out."
Thank goodness that the ambush wasn't as bad as I thought. But I feel uneasy. This was too easy.
"Everybody, take positions, I feel there's another ambush coming towards the assault team. We need that package safe!" As they take positions on the rooftop facing the entrance of the laboratory.
We saw the assault team and we stayed frosty as I'm still listening with my gut that an ambush is coming.
"Wild Hogs! Multiple MIGs are converging to your positions! Take cover now!"
"TAKE COVER EVERYONE!" As we all ducked and the MIGs fired their payload and shot part of the laboratory off. Made a pretty big dent in the lab.
"Everybody in one piece?!"
I looked around and most of my men are intact. But at least 6 soldiers, however, did not get lucky. As I see them on the ground and dead.
I'm so sorry for those poor soldiers. But that's war. Nothing is assured. People are gonna die one way or another.
"Alright, I don't think there's anymore backup coming from the enemy, get the package, and get those dead bodies. We need to bury them in an honorable fashion."
All my men again moved from their spot and went to the ground floor to meet the package. What was the package? It was a chemical truck. Used for carrying large quantities of dangerous chemicals. That's why we didn't want to get destroyed. Because what if the truck was destroyed with said chemicals in the truck? It would be a gas attack and we're not geared for that type of attack.
"Package secured, we're in the process of ridding the laboratory of the dangerous chemicals. What's the situation on Commander Signal's operation?" I told my higher-ups.
"They're in the process of overrunning the base that they're tasked to capture. They will probably sue for peace now after this. Good work Commander. Capital 2 out."
I looked back inside the lab and sat down on a piece of rubble as I watch the scientists are taken to custody and the chemicals are moved to much better hands.
=================
5 days later... The enemy finally sued for peace and we won the war. To be honest, in war, in my opinion, there's really no winner. Lives were spent, and innocent civilians are somewhat harmed. But all of my men celebrated on the barracks and I just stayed out of it.
I'm not really good at holding my drink. I would rather drink something way milder than beer. I don't wanna die early from something non-combat related.
I went to the Command Center of the base and I talked to my higher-ups about the situations on what we're gonna do after the war.
"You want your men to go home?"
"I mean, it's your decision General. But in my opinion, they deserved it."
This officer has been such a hardass ever since I've been in his camp. He's been so passive-aggressive in the few weeks I'm here. Even though I follow his orders. The guy tries to pull rank when I'm basically right where he is.
"Sure, then. I'll give them 3 months to take their breaks. Then your team will be back for the International Military Drills that we always do with the European countries."
"Sir, yes sir." I saluted at the General. And I left the Commander Center.
I looked at the sky and started to walk outside the base. I can't believe that this day has come. It feels so surreal. After so much adversity, we finally won. The ceremony is gonna be done in Washington D. C tomorrow and probably gonna receive my medals and medals for the valiant soldiers who died and did their best to protect the country.
=================
"Commander Caster, you've done well. You deserve those 3 more medals on your chest." Said the man that got me into the military in the first place, as he placed the one last medal on my neck, we both gave each other a salute.
I smiled back and didn't really respond but my smile was more than enough to say what my feeling was.
I walked down a line of officers and they all saluted as I walked outside the White House. And I started to walk back to my car. Which was pretty far away. Parking here sucks.
My thoughts on what I'm gonna do when I'm finally home was really overwhelming. I have been doing nothing but fight but I'm finally gonna go home. What am I gonna do?
I could immediately go try the local food here, I heard the pizzas' here are amazing, I have more than enough money to fully renovate my home, probably go for a vehicle purchase... Maybe I'll even see my relatives soon.
As much as he's wondering about what to do, a sudden sound of artillery immediately snapped his thought and into reality.
'What the hell?' The confused Commander thought to myself, scanning his surroundings, he wasn't in the peaceful but chaotic city of Washington. His back wasn't behind the White House, he was in the middle of a forest, with more dangerous sounds of gunfire in the background.
"W-where am I?" Still confused, wanting to know answers now. But he was alone. And more shots are heard.
"Y-you're here... I can't believe it." A voice came from behind. The Commander turned around to see a young girl wearing a somewhat skimpy shirt and a long staff that resembles a spear.
"Thank goodness..." She said, smiling at him.
Then a heroic story is done here comes another one. The new story's pages have begun to turn.
This is the story where there's nothing but war. With an enemy that comes from the stars far, far away. This is a story where new bonds are made with the arrival of an "otherworlder", that created a storm like no other.
This is Azur Lane.
Word Count: 2910 Words.
4:23 PM
3/27/20