Caverick
Berklesnort
Plancake
Ivan
Powderman
Malcrntyne
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The calm, glassy ocean glittered as it reflected the lighthouse on the eastern tip of Stratis. Our inflatable boats cut through the night toward the enemy held island. Out there in the pre-dawn darkness were three AA emplacements that would make mincemeat of our invading force.
BLUEFOR needed the best.
Unfortunately they were in Somalia, so they sent us instead.
Coasting in to the beach, we climbed a hill and RVed with some local partisans. They offered us some supplies and a tip-off about some intel, but were too timid to aid us in our assault.
Stealthily, we moved up to the lighthouse. A complex sprawled before us, ringed by patrols and towers. Several men were playing cards around a table near a campfire, and beside them loomed a hulking Tigris, our first objective. Closer to the lighthouse, a contingent of enemy camped beside a house. Inside, according to the partisans, was valuable intel.
SPLAT took up positions. Plancake, Berklesnort and Powderman moved to overlook the intel base. Malchrntyne and Ivan drew beads on the enemy snipers at the main complex, and I readied my MRPL rocket launcher. Everyone sounded off when ready and awaited my rocket, the signal to fire.
I aimed for the top of the AA's turret, and let fly. There was a chatter of fire, and soldiers dropped like dominoes while the ordinance was still in the air. The MRPL punched through the enemy armour, and our first objective erupted.
Malchrntyne and Ivan picked off the enemy fighters and sentries. Plancake's group moved into the camp firing, Powderman breaking toward the main complex as Plancake doorkicked the house and found a laptop. A quick download, and we had the locations of all 3 AA and enemy strongholds on the island.
Switching to my Mk18, I ran down the hill to join Powderman. Our assault of the complex was ragged and undisciplined, but effective. In moments we had cleared the compound and found three striker vehicles. Berklesnort, our repair specialist, soon had them combat ready.
Saddling up, SPLAT's convoy headed up the mountains to the west. A radio tower winked in the distance, and we saw an opportunity to disrupt enemy communications.
Leaving our vehicles hidden in a gulley, we approached the hill. A two-man patrol along the road was easily KIAed, then we moved to the tower.
A group of soldiers ringed a campfire, and they hadn't heard us take down the patrol. We assumed firing positions, designated targets, and there was a short firefight as we took them out.
To the north we could see the second AA Tigris near two buildings and a campfire. Beyond it, in the distance, was the lights of Camp Rogain. We cleared the area, and Plancake laid a satchel at the radio tower base. He thumbed the switch, and enemy soldiers all over Stratis lost Facebook.
To the west, an Ifrit armoured car sat parked next to a four man roadblock. If we were stealthy enough and had good enough aim, there was a chance we could take them out before they could reach the vehicle.
We were, and we had.
So far, things had all gone SPLAT's way. That changed in short order when an enemy armoured patrol approached from the south. SPLAT scattered into cover. I found a position where the embankment was steep and they wouldn't see me until it was too late, and readied my launcher.
An MRAP with a HMG idled into view.
I punched a rocket through it at close range.
My elation was short lived. A T-100 tank had been right behind it, and its turret swing toward me. I ran for the lip of the hill and safety, but heavy machine gun slugs cut me down.
While I lay screaming, SPLAT fought back. Ivan took out the tank's track with an AT shot, and its crew bailed out into a hail of fire from my comrades. Malchrntyne brought me around, and Berklesnort set to work on the tank with his toolbox. Soon we had a combat-capable T-100 at our command.
We consolidated our arsenal, preparing for the attack on the second objective. Suddenly, in the distance, we heard the ominous rotors of a helicopter gunship.
Continued in part 2...
