Lieutenant Murphy. “Listen up Hansen, we have some bugs on the hillside. You should have their position on screen ... now. Yeah, I know, the comms are bad, a lot of static. But- you got it? Okay, zoom in there. See those tubes? Probably a DEW firing position. Riddley, you got range? What about the 7.62? Okay, let’s light them up.”
NetToUs. “Folks, the tank crew has been tasked with killing a bug, I don’t know, a bug DEW nest. The bugs are setting up laser cannons. We’re rolling into position and they’re firing one of the main machine guns, maybe both, thousands of rounds.
Oh, mannequin. I’m hearing one of the bugs took a shot at us. Yes, I can feel the heat. I think we’re okay though. Yes. Near miss. Good, good. And. They’ve cleaned out the bug position. The bug nest ship is back up on the screens now. I think we’re going to rain some more hell down on it. Hey, what are those black shapes coming out of the ship?”
Lieutenant Murphy. “Oh $#i# <expletive deleted>. Hansen, let’s get this rig moving. We have flies coming.”
NetToUs. “Getting set up for some anti-aircraft shooting?”
Lieutenant Murphy. “No sir. Uhhh, the turret isn’t designed to raise that high. Not likely fast enough for follow-through anyway. But don’t you worry, you’re riding in a 60-ton monster.
“We got plenty of AA defense along too. Actual anti-aircraft guns and LaWS. And we got the Air Force and Navy fly guys about to cream these turds.”
Sargent Riddley. “You’ve seen the specs on those fly rail guns, haven’t you LT?”
Lieutenant Murphy. “Shut it Riddley. Let’s not worry Jonathan here. Or the folks at home. Hansen, I want to feel like we’re moving really fast, moving target like fast.”
Sargent Hansen. “They’re swarming all around us LT. It’s like a hundred ##@& <expletive deleted> buzz saws going out there.
“Oh no, they got Hard Knock and Bluto. There goes a MOLaRS. Another one. Another one.”
NetToUs. “I’m not going to lie ladies and gentlemen. I am snapping-out in here. We... Oh, mannequin. What just happened? We got scrambled up real good. Felt like-
Lieutenant Murphy. “Hansen, we just get hit?”
Sargent Hansen. “Just a sec. Yeah, sort of. We got side-swiped by another Abrams. Comms problems. Hey, I think we’re back up with command.”
Lieutenant Murphy. “I’ll look into the air-cav situation.”
Sargent Riddley. “I think it got too hot overhead. Our own air defenses shooting at the flies.”
Lieutenant Murphy. “Okay, I’m hearing... Yeah, our guys are inbound. We’re to position for more nest ship work. Coordinates for fire coming in ... now.”
NetToUs. “Well folks, it sounds like-
“What was that? $#!# <expletive deleted>, an Abrams close to us just exploded. This is-
“Medic! Dear Lord. I think everyone is dead. Blood all over. Holes, so many holes. I see the sky. Is everyone dead? Hello-”
***
* 06:02, COMMAND NOTE INTERNAL:
Los Angeles Battle Command has lost comms with Military Satellite Communications Wing, Los Angeles. Switching to Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles. No lock. Switching to Space and Missile Systems Center, Kansas City. Lock, confirmation. AWACS has linked with Aegis Weapons System Control, 3rd Fleet, authorization Charley-Tango-Foxtrot-zero-seven-three-niner.
* 06:18, LOS ANGELES BATTLE COMMAND:
Rise and shine AWACS North Group, you have theater control. Be advised, we’ve lost comms with Rolling Thunder. They’ve gone hot on the enemy flies. Airspace around Rolling Thunder is unsafe due to friendly fire, active air defenses. You will want to stay clear of Rolling Thunder until we restore situational control. Then just stay clear of Rolling Thunder’s theater ballistic track.
* 06:19, AWACS NORTH GROUP:
Roger Command, we have airborne control. *BREAK*
Attention, Angel Wings, this is AWACS North Group, with air and space theater command. All squadrons, continue inbound to target at reduced speed. Avoid Rolling Thunder airspace until they shut down their air defenses. Do not engage enemy flights at this time.
RUN FILE.
The flies streamed up and over the hills, hugging the ground contour. Then they popped up to strafe the armored equipment with rail guns. Fly rail gun fire opened the armored equipment like a buzz saw. Flies have no shielding. The bug pilots showed some caution as air-blast ordnance detonated all around them. That, at least, slowed the outcome of the buzz saws. The flies were also equipped with downsize Pulse Laser Canons. A PLC strike from a fly in the Burbank Sector hit a multiple ordnance launch roller system <MOLaRS>, which resulted in a missile cook-off, and a tremendous explosion.
The bug pilots evidently liked that. They pulled up almost as a group and started targeting only the MOLaRS. That was unfortunate for Angelic Response. It was the only system that was having good success in bringing down flies. The flies were too fast, always jinking, the bugs able to withstand incredible G-forces. The laser <LaWS> platforms couldn’t track and hold long enough to get a clean shot. Anti-aircraft guns were also struggling to pivot and fire with effect at such short range.
The flies had an automated defense system, effectively using rail gun and laser cannon to destroy missiles before impact. Yet some MOLaRS missile volleys met with success. Someone with Rolling Thunder finally figured out their comms had been down for several minutes. Their techs jumped on it and restored comms just as the last MOLaRS cooked-off.
END FILE.
* 06:25, COMMAND NOTE INTERNAL:
Los Angeles Battle Command has restored communication with Rolling Thunder. Comms linked, satellite feed from Kansas City.
* 06:25, LOS ANGELES BATTLE COMMAND:
Rolling Thunder, this is LA Battle Command. Your defensive fire is ineffective. Directive. Halt aerial defensive fire. Friendly aircraft are inbound. You may continue offensive fire directed at the bug nest ships, on OPORD ballistic track only.
* 06:25, ROLLING THUNDER COMMAND:
Roger LA Command, Rolling Thunder
