War of the Worlds

Wings of Freedom

Chapter 3: Wings of Freedom

Inside Wall Maria, Scouting Regiment

Progressing through hostile territory

Silver and sapphire, overlapping wings fluttered in the wing as men and women spearheaded the 56th expedition under Erwin Smith's command. The soldiers of the Scouting Regiment valiantly ventured forward into titan territory. Their mission – to carve a path for a future operation meant to retake Wall Maria.

They were lucky enough to avoid concentrations of Titans after they cleared the walls of Trost. The new strategy Erwin came up with significantly reduced casualties in the opening hours of the expedition.

Alien world, UNEC 1st Combat Battalion

En route to Wall Maria

As the strongest fighting unit of the UNEC, the 1st Combat Battalion is composed of three USMC infantry companies supported by APCs, two Russian T-72B3A1 tank platoons for a total of 7 tanks, two LAV-AD for air defence, a dozen and a half of LAV-25 vehicles for extra fire support, as well as to transport infantrymen, and trucks and logistics support that is not normally going on the first line. Air support was in the form of F/A-18 jets and reconnaissance UAVs. Naval support was available in the form of missiles.

Humvee light trucks armed either with 12,7mm M2 Browning machine guns, or with grenade launchers, or with TOW AT rockets, are spearheading the advance through what is dubbed Titan Territory. They are also covering the flanks of the column. Due to the terrain, the 1st Combat Battalion is doing an average of 40 km/h.

The T-72BA1 is the T-72B3 tank with improved fire control system. The lot of them was donated by Russia for the expedition due to overabundancy of spare parts. US M1A2 tanks were stationed at FOB Olympus. The seven tanks were organized into an understrength tank company –two platoons of three tanks and a command tank.

The command vehicle, a LAV-C2 (Command & Control), serves as Colonel Alistair's mobile HQ. Frederick "Fred" Alistair, the commanding officer of the battalion, is a 45-year-old grizzled veteran of the USMC. Born in Lexington, Kentucky, he joined the military at 20after he dropped out of college. His father, an entrepreneur and economy teacher, wasn't the happiest person when his son gave up his academic studies in favor of a military career. Alistair followed in his grandfather's shoes and joined the Marine Corps. His service record includes tours in the Gulf, in Kosovo, Afghanistan, Eastern Europe, and, most recently, Syria.

His attention was on the screens. Constantly updating maps were refreshed on the displays. His column was just 10 kilometers from the first wall. His call sign for the duration of this mission is Yankee Actual, a name suggested by officers of other nationalities, as much a joke and mockery.

"Yankee Actual, this is Falcon One. How copy? Over," the voice of a pilot came on the radio.

Alistair recognized his call sign and spoke into the microphone. "Falcon One, this is Yankee Actual. Copy five out of five, over."

"Acknowledged, Yankee Actual. We've picked up a sizeable horde of giants headed north. Destination seems to be the second wall. Possible human heat signatures detected in an abandoned town midway there. Over."

"Falcon One, any viable roads for use? Over," the Colonel asked.

"Affirmative. Stone paved road links wall one to wall two. Conditions good. The road will take you through abandoned settlements. Human Settlements. Be advised, scattered giant presence confirmed along the way. Updating maps, over."