Major Shinji Ikari of the USN Army sat in his camouflaged Wanzer while waiting for his enemy to arrive. It was the middle of the afternoon in the humid South American jungle. The heat outside the Wanzer was unbearable and would have been a deathtrap for anyone inside the mech. However, the USN had customized all their Wanzers for the South American front to be equipped with a small air conditioner for the cockpit. It did very little to make the pilot comfortable, but it made conditions tolerable for combat.
Shinji was not alone in his waiting. He was one of seven Wanzers that lay hidden in this part of the jungle. In front of their hiding place sat a single lane dirt road. It was not on any maps and was perfect for sneaking convoys around without your opponent knowing. Shinji and his team were now waiting for one of those convoys.
The group had been laying in wait for a good six hours now. When they arrived at their ambush point, Shinji had ordered the group to disperse and stay still. They were currently ready to strike at a moments notice.
"Yo Shin, are you sure this convoy is supposed to show up?" asked Lieutenant Touji Suzuhara, his voice showing impatience and boredom.
"That is what Command said." answered Shinji, hiding his irradiance. He was upset that Toji was breaking radio silence but, Shinji also understood how his friend felt. Command had been wrong before and time had been wasted.
"Well it wouldn't be the first time they've been wrong" grumbled Touji.
"I know. We will wait two more hours. If nothing shows, we'll head back to base." said Shinji.
"Understood. This jungle is great for sniping, but I still hate it." said the young man. Touji's Wanzer was equipped with a high powered sniper rifle which was perfect for this type of mission.
"It could be worse Touji. We could have been placed on guarding convoys." said Lieutenant Kensuke Aida. Kensuke was also a friend of Shinji and Touji; all three had met and arrived together in the USN after leaving the OCU.
"My talents would be wasted guarding convoys. I suppose this is better, it's just the waiting that drives me insane." said Touji.
"I find that really funny coming from a sniper." said Sergeant Ray Jackson, a comical note sounding in his voice.
"What can I say; waiting is not one of my strong suits. If it weren't for the fact that I was so good at sniping targets, I would have been kicked down to grunt work." stated Touji.
"What the hell does that mean? Grunt work is where it counts, doesn't it major?" asked Private Antonio Caruso.
"Don't start you two. We don't have time for this kind of argument." said Shinji, a tone of authority in his voice.
"Yes Sir" said both Touji and Antonio in unison.
Radio silence returned to the group. Shinji once again closed his eyes and leaned back. He sometimes loved the silence. It was getting hard have, being friends with Kensuke and Touji as friends. He appreciated having them as friends, but a little alone time was welcomed.
After an hour of silence, Private Alex Bauer's voice broke his silence. "Sir! We've got movement on the road coming our way."
Shinji's eyes snapped open and he gripped the handles of the controls. "What do we got?" asked Shinji.
"Ten trucks, all carrying heavy equipment by the looks of it. There are eight Wanzers escorting the convoy." said the Private.
"Who's Wanzers are they? Zaftra or OAC?" asked Shinji.
"Looks like the Africans Sir." said Alex.
"Good, I guess it makes things easier. Alright this is what we are going to do; Touji, you take out the Commander. Have you identified which Wanzer is the Commander Alex?"
"Yes sir. It is the lone one in the middle. You can see an antenna on it." answered the Private.
"You hear that Touji?" asked Shinji.
"Yeah, I'll take him out" answered Touji, a grin coming to his face.
"Alright, Kensuke and Antonio; you two take out the road ahead and behind the convoy." said Shinji.
"Why the road sir?" asked Antonio.
"I don't want them to be able to retreat. Once the road is damaged, use your grenades to take out the trucks." said Shinji.
"Yes Sir" said Kensuke and Antonio in unison.
"Alright the rest us will move in and take out the remaining Wanzers. Nothing fancy people just move in." ordered Shinji.
Touji lined up his rifle for his shot. As the convoy got closer, Touji scanned the group of Wanzers for his target. As the one that he was searching for appeared, Touji looked into his scope. Deciding that he needed to take out the Commander pretty quick, Touji aimed for the body of the Wanzer where the pilot sat. He had loaded his rifle with armored piercing shells before he left the base. Pulling the trigger, the rifle recoiled as the shot fired. It sailed through the air and passed three other Wanzers before it hit its target. As the shot struck, it pierced the armor that protected the pilot and killed him.
As the enemy commander's Wanzer went down, his comrades reacted by shooting blindly into the jungle. As Kensuke and Antonio launched their grenades into air, Shinji and the rest of his team emerged from the trees and fired at the remaining Wanzers. Shinji, wielding two heavy machine guns, let loose on the two nearest enemies. Catching them by surprise, neither enemy could react before bullets shattered the two mechs. Alex moved close behind an unsuspecting Wanzer and once he was close enough, blasted his shotgun into the back of the Wanzer. It fell face forward into the dirt, kicking up dust. Jackson sped forward, his Wanzer equipped with a turbo pack, swinging his club and bashing the three Wanzers as he passed them. Private George Carter took out the last Wanzer with his rocket launcher.
As the last Wanzer died, Kensuke and Antonio launched their grenades at the trucks. As the grenades landed, the trucks began exploding. Men ran from the debris into the jungle in an attempt to escape. As the last truck lay burning, Shinji lowered his weapons.
"Looks like the convoy has been destroyed, good job everyone." said Shinji, a smile appearing on his face.
"Yeah, that was easy." exclaimed Antonio.
"Yes, I agree. The Africans do not make good fighters." said Carter, frowning.
"Without the Zaftrans helping them, they seem like pushovers." replied Kensuke.
"The OAC army has a problem of having its troops depend too much on their commanders. The individual troops lack the necessities to function alone in battle. That is a major weakness. However, if they are using Zaftran technology and support, they can be a major threat." explained Shinji.
"I know. We all remember Fort Riley." remarked Touji.
"Yeah, well let's head back to base." ordered Shinji. His Wanzer turned and walked back into the jungle, followed by the rest of his men.
….
"Excellent job Major Ikari." said General Alexander Smith as he sat in his desk.
When Shinji and group arrived back at the base, he dismissed his men and immediately reported to his commanding officer. The General's office was located very close to the Wanzer hangers. The General was a former Wanzer pilot and still kept his mech in pristine condition.
"Thank you sir." said Shinji, standing at attention.
"At ease Major, sit down. We have much to discuss." said the General, gesturing to the chair.
Shinji took his seat. The General leaned back and stared out the window. "As you know, the war is in a tense moment. Though we have the OAC contained here in South America and the Zaftrans in Northern Canada, the OCU and EC are not doing to well. The EC is reporting heavy losses in Germany and southern Italy. The OCU is also getting hit hard on the Korean front. If both the EC and OCU fall, we'll be surrounded and in trouble. One of the main problems is that the EC, OCU, and the USN have been at each other's throats for so long that any cooperation in combat is difficult."
"Yes Sir, what is being done about it?" asked Shinji with interest.
The General sighed "Well, there is a joint operation coming up involving all three allied nations. The Pentagon wishes you to be an apart of it."
"If they need me Sir, I would gladly be a part of it." said Shinji.
"Before you volunteer, there is something you should know" said the General, a frown appearing on his face.
Shinji was not alone in his waiting. He was one of seven Wanzers that lay hidden in this part of the jungle. In front of their hiding place sat a single lane dirt road. It was not on any maps and was perfect for sneaking convoys around without your opponent knowing. Shinji and his team were now waiting for one of those convoys.
The group had been laying in wait for a good six hours now. When they arrived at their ambush point, Shinji had ordered the group to disperse and stay still. They were currently ready to strike at a moments notice.
"Yo Shin, are you sure this convoy is supposed to show up?" asked Lieutenant Touji Suzuhara, his voice showing impatience and boredom.
"That is what Command said." answered Shinji, hiding his irradiance. He was upset that Toji was breaking radio silence but, Shinji also understood how his friend felt. Command had been wrong before and time had been wasted.
"Well it wouldn't be the first time they've been wrong" grumbled Touji.
"I know. We will wait two more hours. If nothing shows, we'll head back to base." said Shinji.
"Understood. This jungle is great for sniping, but I still hate it." said the young man. Touji's Wanzer was equipped with a high powered sniper rifle which was perfect for this type of mission.
"It could be worse Touji. We could have been placed on guarding convoys." said Lieutenant Kensuke Aida. Kensuke was also a friend of Shinji and Touji; all three had met and arrived together in the USN after leaving the OCU.
"My talents would be wasted guarding convoys. I suppose this is better, it's just the waiting that drives me insane." said Touji.
"I find that really funny coming from a sniper." said Sergeant Ray Jackson, a comical note sounding in his voice.
"What can I say; waiting is not one of my strong suits. If it weren't for the fact that I was so good at sniping targets, I would have been kicked down to grunt work." stated Touji.
"What the hell does that mean? Grunt work is where it counts, doesn't it major?" asked Private Antonio Caruso.
"Don't start you two. We don't have time for this kind of argument." said Shinji, a tone of authority in his voice.
"Yes Sir" said both Touji and Antonio in unison.
Radio silence returned to the group. Shinji once again closed his eyes and leaned back. He sometimes loved the silence. It was getting hard have, being friends with Kensuke and Touji as friends. He appreciated having them as friends, but a little alone time was welcomed.
After an hour of silence, Private Alex Bauer's voice broke his silence. "Sir! We've got movement on the road coming our way."
Shinji's eyes snapped open and he gripped the handles of the controls. "What do we got?" asked Shinji.
"Ten trucks, all carrying heavy equipment by the looks of it. There are eight Wanzers escorting the convoy." said the Private.
"Who's Wanzers are they? Zaftra or OAC?" asked Shinji.
"Looks like the Africans Sir." said Alex.
"Good, I guess it makes things easier. Alright this is what we are going to do; Touji, you take out the Commander. Have you identified which Wanzer is the Commander Alex?"
"Yes sir. It is the lone one in the middle. You can see an antenna on it." answered the Private.
"You hear that Touji?" asked Shinji.
"Yeah, I'll take him out" answered Touji, a grin coming to his face.
"Alright, Kensuke and Antonio; you two take out the road ahead and behind the convoy." said Shinji.
"Why the road sir?" asked Antonio.
"I don't want them to be able to retreat. Once the road is damaged, use your grenades to take out the trucks." said Shinji.
"Yes Sir" said Kensuke and Antonio in unison.
"Alright the rest us will move in and take out the remaining Wanzers. Nothing fancy people just move in." ordered Shinji.
Touji lined up his rifle for his shot. As the convoy got closer, Touji scanned the group of Wanzers for his target. As the one that he was searching for appeared, Touji looked into his scope. Deciding that he needed to take out the Commander pretty quick, Touji aimed for the body of the Wanzer where the pilot sat. He had loaded his rifle with armored piercing shells before he left the base. Pulling the trigger, the rifle recoiled as the shot fired. It sailed through the air and passed three other Wanzers before it hit its target. As the shot struck, it pierced the armor that protected the pilot and killed him.
As the enemy commander's Wanzer went down, his comrades reacted by shooting blindly into the jungle. As Kensuke and Antonio launched their grenades into air, Shinji and the rest of his team emerged from the trees and fired at the remaining Wanzers. Shinji, wielding two heavy machine guns, let loose on the two nearest enemies. Catching them by surprise, neither enemy could react before bullets shattered the two mechs. Alex moved close behind an unsuspecting Wanzer and once he was close enough, blasted his shotgun into the back of the Wanzer. It fell face forward into the dirt, kicking up dust. Jackson sped forward, his Wanzer equipped with a turbo pack, swinging his club and bashing the three Wanzers as he passed them. Private George Carter took out the last Wanzer with his rocket launcher.
As the last Wanzer died, Kensuke and Antonio launched their grenades at the trucks. As the grenades landed, the trucks began exploding. Men ran from the debris into the jungle in an attempt to escape. As the last truck lay burning, Shinji lowered his weapons.
"Looks like the convoy has been destroyed, good job everyone." said Shinji, a smile appearing on his face.
"Yeah, that was easy." exclaimed Antonio.
"Yes, I agree. The Africans do not make good fighters." said Carter, frowning.
"Without the Zaftrans helping them, they seem like pushovers." replied Kensuke.
"The OAC army has a problem of having its troops depend too much on their commanders. The individual troops lack the necessities to function alone in battle. That is a major weakness. However, if they are using Zaftran technology and support, they can be a major threat." explained Shinji.
"I know. We all remember Fort Riley." remarked Touji.
"Yeah, well let's head back to base." ordered Shinji. His Wanzer turned and walked back into the jungle, followed by the rest of his men.
….
"Excellent job Major Ikari." said General Alexander Smith as he sat in his desk.
When Shinji and group arrived back at the base, he dismissed his men and immediately reported to his commanding officer. The General's office was located very close to the Wanzer hangers. The General was a former Wanzer pilot and still kept his mech in pristine condition.
"Thank you sir." said Shinji, standing at attention.
"At ease Major, sit down. We have much to discuss." said the General, gesturing to the chair.
Shinji took his seat. The General leaned back and stared out the window. "As you know, the war is in a tense moment. Though we have the OAC contained here in South America and the Zaftrans in Northern Canada, the OCU and EC are not doing to well. The EC is reporting heavy losses in Germany and southern Italy. The OCU is also getting hit hard on the Korean front. If both the EC and OCU fall, we'll be surrounded and in trouble. One of the main problems is that the EC, OCU, and the USN have been at each other's throats for so long that any cooperation in combat is difficult."
"Yes Sir, what is being done about it?" asked Shinji with interest.
The General sighed "Well, there is a joint operation coming up involving all three allied nations. The Pentagon wishes you to be an apart of it."
"If they need me Sir, I would gladly be a part of it." said Shinji.
"Before you volunteer, there is something you should know" said the General, a frown appearing on his face.