3. The cockpit recording from a bug flier.
The fly that made it through the hype attack from E-6-9, Hammer, sped past the relatively slow B-R1 Missile Truck, decelerated, and took position upside down, canopy to canopy. The bug made an odd gesture, pumping its head up and down. Captain Avery Melbourne intuitively understood the challenge and replied with an appropriate hand gesture. She hit the throttle and pulled up hard, causing an impact with the smaller air ship.
The fly spun out of control for a few seconds. Then the bug slipped to the rear of the B-R1 and slowly cut Hammer in half with rail fire. The bug used its “hard” claw to scratch another hash mark on the cabin wall. After that, he brought the hands of his head feelers together in an arch and began to tap his paired fingers over and over. One, two, three, four. Over and over he tapped, in a neurotic tap dance, as he scanned the skies with his optical scope.
There! Another flying slug. Throttle, pulse cannon, explosion. Hash mark. So easy. One, two, three, four. One, two, three, four. There! Far away. Another large craft with a dome on top. It almost looked like a Dome of Ahaam. Could it be? He voiced his wonder at the discovery. The bug flew off for a close look at AWACS, East Group, and the radar dome that apparently looked like a Dome of Ahaam.
AWACS EAST GROUP:
“Attention, this is AWACS East Group. We’re on slide to avoid approaching fly.”
As the AWACS aircraft moved off, the overwatch F22, Body Guard Two, moved in to interdict the fly.
BODY GUARD TWO:
“East, this is Body Guard Two. Missiles away.”
The bug left the defensive work to the onboard computer as he moved with intent to evade the F22 and get a closer look at the Dome of Ahaam on the other Earth craft.
BODY GUARD TWO:
“East, we were negative on the missiles. The fly must have pulled 20 Gs. Reset to intercept. Trying cannon.”
The bug slowed his fly to pace the AWACS craft and marvel at the sight. How could it be, a symbol for the Dome of Ahaam, on a human airship?
A communication followed on from the bugs Nest Ship: Stupid Wassel <derogatory term>, it’s a scanner dome, nothing more; destroy the airship.
The bug woke from his stupor. Let them laugh, he felt festive now that the berserker drug was wearing off. He hated how he felt when they dosed him.
A round from Body Guard Two’s 20 mm cannon took him in the thorax. He smiled as his sight slowly faded. One, two, three, four.
END TIMELINE DROP. +
***
RUN FILE.
Throughout the night, as the Long Beach ship was being pounded, the 1Xth Marine Expeditionary Unit landed their OCBs <assault landing craft> at strategic locations along the coastline. The unit had divided to battalion size, with approximately 550 soldiers deployed to each bug ship sector. Their goal was to provide support in moving people to more secure evacuation centers until army regulars arrived. The bugs were causing terrible destruction. Besides, a nuclear option was being considered, local theater devices. As the Marines helped with evacuation, Command gave Rolling Thunder orders to pull out under cover of the air assault.
The carrier task group had fared better than the air force or Rolling Thunder, their tracking systems benefiting from the greater travel distance required of the enemy. With the distance, they could maintain better fire lock. Even at that, every ship had sustained significant damage. The group was under way, moving out an additional 100 nautical miles, hoping more open water would discourage fly attacks. Though they were still operating, even the naval air sorties had slowed because of attrition.
With the evacuation now in the secure hands of area first responders and army troops, the Marine battalions were ordered to move to forward shield positions near each nest ship. They were tasked with stopping any further bug incursions until the evacuations were complete. For Angel Wings, the situation in the air continued to deteriorate as the pilots tried to manage the chaotic movements of the enemy flies. It was time to call a close to Angel Wings. Really, it was past time to put an end to the disaster that had come to Angelic Response.
END FILE.
* 06:40, AWACS NORTH GROUP:
All squadrons. This is AWACS North Group to all squadrons. Directive. Separate. Repeat, disengage from the enemy and rendezvous at your designated safe zones. *BREAK*
MC Group Command, this is AWACS North Group, Marines you will have air support from the carrier task groups.
* 06:45, PC-2, MARINE COMPANY BATTALION, Rosemead open comms <note: open comms due to technical error>:
Still no bugs. Likely as not, they got the message with the artillery. What a mess, bug parts all over the place. Let me borrow your glasses. Yeah, a mess. Rolling Thunder is moving out. If it stays this quiet, the bugs are going to come out for a look-see. It’s still noisy on the other side of the hill. Air force.
* 06:45, PC-2, MARINE COMPANY BATTALION, ROSEMEAD COMMAND:
This is Colonel Holloway. Cut the chatter. All troops, comms check. Radio silence. Be alert!
* 06:46, MC ROSEMEAD COMMAND:
Rosemead is active! M-777 howitzers, be alert. Ready drone packs. Stinger group, watch for flies.
RUN FILE.
Two 10-member bug squads emerged from the nest ship. They pumped their heads up and down at the soldiers. Two flies came in low from the west and landed, returning from a carrier run, damaged. The bugs ran up to the fliers, helped the pilots out, and started to do diagnostics.
Four drone packs buzzed in and detonated. The bugs died instantly. A brief barrage of howitzer shells from the M-777s rained down on the main ship. Still shielded, the barrage had no effect. The Marines decided it would be best to wait for more vulnerable targets. There wasn’t much time
