Good Morning...2043?!

Chapter 18 - RPG! [EDITED]

General Trish POV 

Something had come up. I rubbed my face as yet another 'reported' FIA base was located. We had gotten so many false alarms that it was getting frustrating, but we had to keep our guard up. It was impossible to know when one report could end up leading to actual FIA personnel. I grabbed my phoneand sent a message to all Echo Delta Team members.  

Jonathan POV 

I heard a noise from my tac-pad and scrambled to grab it. Picking it up, I started reading the document. 'Undeniable FIA activity has been reported in Northeastern United States, Vermont, Rutland City. Aerial unit is requested to investigate overhead before ground units advance. Echo Delta Team to prepare for departure. Squad Leader will brief on additional details.' 

I set my tac-pad down and grabbed my helmet. FIA activity? Not on my watch you sons and daughters of bitches. Fastening my new helmet cam onto the freshly welded-on bracket, I turned it on and checked the feed before grabbing my rifle. I quickly slid a magazine in and pushed open the door. Walking down the hall, I saw Fisher, Tammy, and Adley already in their gear, waiting patiently. 

"I'm guessing you guys got that message too?" Adley nodded. "Yep, whenever the squad is needed, the entire team gets notified, though the squad leader, Ash, usually gets more info. She'll brief us when she comes out." As if on cue, Ash, quickly followed by Marcus and Todd, came down the hall. "Alright team, listen up." Ash quickly called for everyone's attention.

"Appropriately four hours ago, the 31st Infantry Battalion commander sent a transmission reporting FIA activity in Vermont, Rutland City. Our job is to fly overhead and see just what they're dealing with, and come back. We'll also be equipped with a camera providing live feed base to High Command. Any questions? None? Good, let's get a move on, we're due at L-Z 04 in five." 

I picked up my rifle and followed the others down the hall towards the L-Z pads. "Good luck guys!" "Don't let those FIA bastards get 'cha!" "Yo no-fur! Don't go dying on us yet!" I chuckled upon hearing this, and looked up to see we were approaching the designated landing pad. I fastened my helmet strap and stepped through the door. Met with the same UH-60 as they had originally picked me up in, I smirked grimly.

Ah, good memories. I jumped up into the helicopter after Marcus and sat down next to Fisher. Fisher glanced at me then did a double-take back. "Damn dude! When did you decide to modernize your rifle?" I chuckled and pointed at Tammy. "She was the one who suggested it, and man she did NOT disappoint!" 

She chuckled half-heartedly and I saw Ash eyeing my rifle. "Did you consider using jungle mags?" I squinted, not sure if I heard her right. "Jungle what?" She scoffed and pulled out two magazines from her vest. It took me a moment to realize that they were attached together by some kind of plastic webbing. 

"These are jungle mags, it speeds up reloading and it's just a lot more convenient in the heat of battle." I inspected it, admiring the ingenuity of the idea. "It's a great suggestion, but it just seems really bulky. Besides, I'm used to just pressing the mag release and slapping in a new one the moment I'm out." She nodded respectfully and returned it to her vest. I yawned and leaned back. "I'm gonna catch some more Z's, lemme know when we're over the target area." I tilted my helmet forward and closed my eyes, allowing sleep to take me.

-Time Skip-

Ash POV

I woke up to feel my watch buzzing. Looking at it, I realized we were approaching the A-O. I lightly tapped Jonathan on the shoulder, which he quickly awoke from. He saw it was me who woke him and turned to me. "We approaching?" I simply nodded and he stretched his arms. "I'll wake the others." I expected him to simply go from person to person, but instead I heard a click, and suddenly loud music was being blasted throughout the chopper. 

Everyone scrambled awake in a matter of seconds, and I could faintly hear Jonathan cackling. "JONATHAN!" Most of the team started laughing, realizing who the culprit was. Fisher threw an empty magazine at his head, which he quickly dodged. "What? I was told we were getting close to the target area, so I had to wake you guys up!" I chuckled lightly as I grabbed a large brown case and pried it open. Inside was a large camera, designated for the aerial flyover.

"Alright guys listen up! We're gonna do a number of passovers, and we just have to film the city and look for any activity. All friendly forces got pulled out, so any movement whatsoever is enemy activity, so keep an eye out."  I set the camera on my shoulder, and Todd pulled the door open. Peering out, I saw the war-torn city below, craters, fires, and fallen skyscrapers showed the true level of devastation done to the city. Jonathan peered out, a pair of binoculars in his hands. 

Jonathan POV

So far I wasn't seeing anything in the city, apart from wrecked vehicles and fallen infrastructure. Suddenly, I saw a flash of movement inside an abandoned mall. "I got movement, two klicks out, Northeast. Looks like a convoy." I saw Ash pull out her own binoculars, peering out. "Pilot, turn Northeast, heading one-eighty." I felt the chopper tilt as the new heading was established. 

"...appears to be an FIA convoy...two tanks...four trucks, two humvees. Both with mounted guns." "A-firm, confirming with camera." I was trying to see where they were going, when I noticed a column of smoke, growing closer and closer-"RPG INBOUND! DEPLOY FLARES!" I screamed aloud as I quickly identified what it was. "Deploying flares!" I heard the copilot shout. 

The RPG curved left, and there was an ear-splitting explosion followed by a shudder. "Flares ineffective! Indirect hit to the main engine! We are losing altitude! All personnel in brace positions!" I could hear the pilot shouting back to us.  I yanked Ash away from the open door as we began to spiral out of control. I quickly shut the door and grabbed hold of my brick. "Mayday! Mayday! This is Echo Delta Squad! Our chopper has been struck by anti-aircraft weapons! Requesting assistance! Confirmed FIA ground units in the area!"

I could hear the acknowledgment of the radio operator on the other end of the line. I quickly fastened my harness. "This is gonna be a rough landing!" There was a loud bang, and the entire chopper tilted to the side. An ammo can flew towards me, smacking against my head. A ringing filled my ears, and everything faded to black.

??? POV

"This is Patrol-06, we have confirmed UF chopper down, over." I smirked and picked up the mic. "Move forward and confirm all personnel are dead." "A-firm, beginning search for wrecked chopper, over and out."