2.9 - Unknown Flight
Berril Plains, 32 km northwest of Magwurt City.
0830 hours, 23 March 2025
At one corner of Berril Plains one LAV Shorad took up position. The mission carried out by the LAV Shorad is to become part of the early warning network around Magwurt City, and if necessary neutralize threats long before they arrive in Magwurt City.
Ideally, for this mission the LAV Shorad should be accompanied by another LAV Shorad or two M1151 Rippers. Unfortunately, due to limited resources, each check-point around Magwurt City is guarded only by a LAV Shorad or a pair of M1151 Rippers.
The crew dug a hole as deep as ⅔ LAV Shorad while excavated soil was stockpiled around it, so that the camouflage net could be installed as low as possible.
And because the LAV Shorad is not equipped with air conditioning, when it is in a static position the driver's hatch and two rear doors will be opened.
Up to a radius of 50 km LAV Shorad can share data with the nearest radar station. However, because the nearest radar station is at FOC South 860 which is 70 km away, Multi-mission Hemispheric Radar 272 is turned on.
MHR 272 has detection capabilities including:
Medium-Size UAV: 23 Km
Heavy Transport Aircraft: 60 Km
Fighter: 34 Km
Helicopter: 23 Km
Pedestrians: 10 Km
Medium Vessel: 23 Km
Large Vessel: 40 Km
Apart from its very adequate detection capabilities, the MHR 272 also has other advantages over similar products. The radar does not require periodic maintenance when operated. Maintenance can be performed while the carrying unit is being pulled to the base.
LAV Shorad is operated by the same crew of three as the M1151 Ripper, but in a different format. The Commander Vehicle is also the sensor operator, the gunner who is also in charge of maintaining the weapons system, and the driver who is also in charge of maintaining the vehicle.
Like any other quiet day, while sitting in the Vehicle Commander seat and fanning his face, Sergeant Dwight observes the Electro-Optic sensing and MHR 272 radar. While gunners and drivers are busy playing cards to ward off boredom.
But the calm inside LAV Shorad was suddenly broken when a radio call came in.
The driver immediately started the engine and put it in reverse gear, and was prepared if the situation demanded that LAV Shorad should come out of the hiding hole.
Meanwhile, Gunner immediately returned to his chair after closing the rear door tightly.
[Sierra Romeo 8-6-0, Blaster 2-2, comes in.]
Sergeant Dwight pressed the PTT button before answering a call from the radar station at FOC South 860.
"Blaster 2-2, Sierra Romeo 8-6-0, go ahead, over."
[Blaster 2-2, be advised. . . unknown flight, 78 km northwest, altitude 600 meters, speed 260 km/h, over.]
"Sierra Romeo 8-6-0, understood, permission to shoot down the unknown guest, confirm."
[Blaster 2-2, negative, don't shoot unless your position is threatened, let the unknown guest in, over.]
Since the operational center at FOC South 860 wanted to know the guest's intentions, Sergeant Dwight could only comply.
"Sierra Romeo 8-6-0, understood, the door will be left open, Blaster 2-2, out."
Time continues to flow before finally a flicker appears on the MHR 272 screen. A few minutes later the tablet pc screen displays the target captured by EO sensor that works in daylight mode. Without delay, the gunner immediately marks the target then selects the weapon to be used.
The armaments carried by LAV Shorad are:
FIM-92 Stinger, 4 units ready to fire, and 12 units stored in the cabin.
AGM-114L Hellfire LongBow, 2 units are ready to fire and 2 others are stored in the cabin.
Auto-canon M230LF 30 mm, with Airburst Tracer or Armor Piercing Tracer ammunition combined with a dual feed-system.
To welcome the approaching target, the gunner selects M230LF with Airburst Tracer ammunition, and once the weapon is selected the locking system was immediately activated, taking aim at targets that casually enter the M230LF auto-canon effective range.
- - - - -
Rider Orka wanted to curse when this morning he got orders to do a reconnaissance of Magwurt City.
"What do they want to see from a dying city?"
Rider Orka grumbled as the Cloud Hawk he was riding across the cloudless sky at moderate speed.
Magwurt City's location is very close to the entrance of Desolate Land, that's why he may meet a herd of Black Eagles that come out of Desolate Land to hunt him. Given that the giant eagle is very aggressive and territorial.
If this happens, it is unlikely that he will come home alive, considering that Black Eagle is much faster and stronger than Cloud Hawk.
Without realizing that the angel of death was peeking at him from a corner, Rider Orka flew across the Berril Plains, until he finally arrived above Magwurt City and immediately sank into shock.
Dozens of large and small iron carts run without being drawn by horses. A smooth, wide, and neat road network, and massive buildings that rise to five floors.
'Am I lost without realizing it?'
Rider Orka immediately compared the landmarks around Magwurt City with the information on the map he was carrying. The results turned out to be quite astonishing, for he was not lost.
"The reconnaissance orders I received were no ordinary orders."
Without delay, Rider Orka took out some recording crystals and immediately took various pictures that he considered vital.
When he realized that there was a wide and smooth road that led to the east, without hesitation he followed the path even though he realized that it led to Desolate Land.
- - - - -
Magwurt City
As soon as Tuscan Region higher-ups heard that an unknown flight was approaching, an alert order was immediately issued.
The residents immediately entered the emergency shelter under the Apartment Blok, while Tuscan Guard personnel alerted ballistas and scattered archers on the Apartment Blocks roof or other high buildings.
Even so, every Tuscan Guard personnel was aware that they were at a disadvantage, because Riders could shower their positions using fire arrows from a height they could not reach.
From above the city walls, Centurion Kallie looked at Cloud Hawk who was circling Magwurt City, before looking at Amethyst Merchant personnel who were doing their usual activities.
"Amethyst Merchant personnel seemed unaware of how dangerous the Riders were. A Squadron of 20 Riders could easily scatter a thousand-strong ground force. They must have never heard the phrase 'The best defense against Riders is another Rider.'"
Centurion Kallie sighed silently before murmuring again.
"Unfortunately, before Tuscan Guard's capacity was recovered, an enemy had already come knocking."
Centurion Kallie still wanted to complain, but somehow the Riders circling Magwurt City suddenly flew eastward until they were out of sight.
- - - - -
Settlement 116
0835 hours, March 23, 2025
As usual, every two days Vex will check the progress of Settlements 116, then teach the children in the settlement.
"Sir."
Lieutenant Kim Dongchun saluted Vex who had just disembarked from an M1152 before reporting.
"Vegetables are ready to be harvested, while fruits still have to wait longer. Production of milk, cheese, meat, eggs, and other animal products has also started."
". . ."
"The livestock quality we buy from Lionel Region is a little below standard, but we can still maximize it. The residents here are also learning fast."
Vex smiled before cheerfully saying.
"Yes, I've read the report. When the Settlement 116 production capacity reaches a full rotation, then we can reduce the food imported from the earth by 14%."
Lieutenant Kim Dongchun nodded before asking.
"I heard that apart from a dam and a few other facilities, we are also planning to set up a second farm and ranch in the mountains south of Magwurt City."
"Yeah, but the plan seems to have to be postponed until next year becau---"
Vex stopped his words when he saw a communications specialist NCO running toward him hastily.
"XO, you're being asked to get back to Harley Quine right now."
"Lieutenant, ask someone to take my place in teaching."
Vex asked before boarding the M1152 and immediately stepped on the gas heading to Harley Quine.
*****