No Gods, Nor Masters

On The Aquila's Wings

UN Scout Unit, US Marine Corps FORCE RECON-Army Cav Scout joint op,

Callsign "WATCHER"

East MSR, 'Italica Express'. The Front Lines.

A squad of three Humvees and a Bradley rolled forward for an aggressive reconnaissance mission. In the distance, muffled by the noise of the vehicles' engines, roared the joint air and artillery fire of the UN and UNSC forces. BM-21 GRAD multi-launch rocket artillery fired like whirlwinds against entrenched Imperial positions while mobile units of armor and infantry practically steamrolled the Imperials' weakened Legions. In the meanwhile, FORCE RECON, Cav Scouts and other groups much like WATCHER had been sent forth with air support from aircraft and drones above to locate the best land routes to the Imperial cities and vassals to the east, west and immediate north of the capital.

So their allies knew what to cut off when the time arrived to start encroaching on the city itself, of course. That, and to find any possible Insurrection camps, or units in transfer to try and resist the advance of the Joint Task Force. WATCHER's unit of scouts moved fast and hard, guns at the ready as they rolled forward. A dozen US Marines. Sure as shit was gonna be a big enough threat for the enemy, the team leads figured.

The vehicles trundled forth down the road, bouncing up and down the small mounds and hills, knowing full-well they had air support and the cover of their artillery for the next couple extra klicks at least. They were, however, entering a forested area. Each Marine tensed, thumbing the safeties off their weapons. They'd heard HITMAN-4 got hit with an ambush not too long ago from an Innie task force.

They'd pop the armored windows down if they needed to engage, but the Bradley had thermals, so it'd probably warn them of anything before lighting said 'thing' up with its 25mm Bushmaster autocannon. Or, if it was an enemy vic, hit it with a TOW for good measure. They heard the distant roar of the jet escorting them from above and looked up. Sleek, beautiful and well-equipped, a US Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle twin-engine fighter-bomber flew at Angels 2 above them, carrying a payload of JDAMs and four AIM-9X Sidewinder Anti-Air Missiles just in case a Dragon reared its ugly-ass face. It also had an escorting MiG-29, surprisingly bearing Romanian Air Force colors.

"Guess the Romanians must've upped their defenses just in case..." Murmured one of the Humvee gunners. A few of his buddies inside replied in agreement. The Romanian MiG-29 fighters had been in storage for the better part of several decades, but were thankfully still intact. It seemed that the Gate opening had finally gotten the MiG-29 "Sniper" Programme out of its cryo-sleep and up to work, too. It'd taken them some months, but they modernized the old Warbirds to NATO standard... With Polish and Israeli help, surprisingly.

WATCHER ACTUAL, the lead victor, hummed, then pulled up his radio and called, "All WATCHER elements, this is WATCHER-1, ACTUAL speaking, advise any movement so we know how to deal with it. If we wind up in an ambush, we blow clean through it and report the position to SPARROW up above. Refer to SPARROW for CAS missions on intended targets and remember all of them will be Danger Close."

Various affirmative replies echoed. He nodded approvingly, setting the radio down and hefting his rifle again. He felt the vic go over a hard bump, them swore to himself, holding onto his helmet. He sighed, then asked, "Could you fellas drive any more like shit..." as he pushed himself back down into his seat. His driver snorted and gave a half-mouthed apology, before humming.

"WATCHER Actual, this is WATCHER-4. Thermals are picking up heat sigs, about a dozen off them, to our immediate three o'clock." The Bradley crew reported. It was on platoon net, so everyone heard it and tensed up. The Marines readied their weapons and rolled down their windows, before the Bradley reported, "Confirming contacts, times six foot-mobiles, two armed with RPG tubes and rockets. Be advised:Possible larger enemy force nearby, but unsure at this time. Will engage at your orders."