Chương 19: "The Early Hours"

The sun had just begun to rise, casting a golden glow over the horizon as the UPKF forces readied themselves for battle. The air was crisp and cool, with a gentle breeze blowing through the hills where the Dreg division had taken up their position. The sound of birds chirping and leaves rustling was a stark contrast to the impending violence.

Captain Johnson surveyed the area with his binoculars, carefully noting the movements of the rebel forces below. He whispered into his radio, relaying the information to his team and making sure they were prepared for any sudden attacks. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest, a mixture of excitement and nervousness as he waited for the order to advance.

Meanwhile, in the north, the Sword division was moving through the dense forest, their progress slow and steady. Lieutenant Rodriguez was leading the way, his eyes scanning the trees for any signs of danger. He could hear the rustling of leaves and twigs snapping underfoot as his team advanced, each one on high alert.

"This is it, boys," Rodriguez said, his voice calm but firm. "We're going to take back what's rightfully ours. Stick together, and we'll make it through this."

"Sir, do you think we can do it?" one of the soldiers asked, his voice laced with doubt.

Rodriguez turned to face him. "I won't lie to you, this is going to be tough. But we have the advantage of surprise, and we have the best soldiers in the UPKF fighting alongside us. We can do this."

The soldier nodded, his face determined.

"This is the Sword Legion, do you copy?" Rodriguez took out his radio and contacted the Dreg legion "Captain, I need an update on the rebel movements in the north. Can you get me the latest intel?"

Captain Johnson nodded and quickly took out his notes where he had jotted down the rebel's movements. "Sir, we have reports of heavy enemy activity in the area of the North Gate. The rebels have set up barricades and have snipers positioned on rooftops. Our scouts have reported that they're heavily armed and ready for a fight."

Rodriguez frowned. "Damn it. We can't lose men. We need to find a way to take them out without getting ourselves killed."

"I agree, sir," Captain Johnson said. "I'll see if I can get a drone up in the air to get a better look at their position."

"Good idea," Rodriguez said. "Keep me updated."

Captain Johnson was watching the live feed from the drone's camera on his tablet, as it soared high above the hilly terrain. He could see the Dreg division moving slowly through the rough terrain, keeping a close eye on the movements of the rebel force below.

Suddenly, there was movement on the screen, and Johnson quickly zoomed in. He could see the rebels shifting positions, possibly preparing for an ambush. He immediately grabbed his radio and spoke into it.

"Rodriguez, this is Johnson. The rebels are shifting positions near the north gate. Be on high alert," he said, his voice tense.

"Copy that, Captain," came the response from Rodriguez on the other end of the line.

Johnson knew that this was a critical moment in the operation. If the rebels managed to surprise the Sword Legion, it could lead to a catastrophic loss of life. He quickly thought of a plan and reached for his radio again.

"Sword Legion, this is Johnson. I'm sending you the live feed of the stealth drone to provide intel on the rebels' movements. Stay put and keep an eye out for any surprises," he said.

There was a moment of silence before the response came in, "Roger that, Captain. We'll be on standby."

Johnson quickly tapped away on his tablet, directing the drone to fly lower and closer to the rebel force. He could see the rebels now, armed and moving with purpose. He watched as they dug in, preparing to defend the city with all their might.

He quickly relayed the intel to the Sword Legion, giving them a heads-up on the rebel's exact location and movements. This would give them an edge in the upcoming battle and hopefully, help them avoid any nasty surprises.

Meanwhile near the North Gate :

Lieutenant Rodriguez huddled with his team members around a small screen displaying the live feed from the stealth drone. They were currently stationed on a high vantage point overlooking the north gate of the capital city of Aaria.

"Okay, pay attention," Rodriguez said, gesturing toward the screen. "As you can see here, the rebels have stationed their snipers on top of the buildings surrounding the gate. But they've neglected to cover this area over here," he pointed at a blind spot on the screen.

"So, if we move in from this direction, we can take them by surprise and possibly even disable their artillery," Rodriguez continued, his eyes glued to the screen. "But we have to be careful not to alert their snipers. We need to move in silently."

The team members nodded in agreement, their faces serious and focused. They knew that this was a critical moment, and any mistake could cost them dearly.

"Now to focus on the rest of the gates, as you can see here, the rebels have concentrated most of their forces on the west side of the gate. The east side is relatively undefended, which means we have a chance to breach their defenses after we ambush them at the North Gate."

He zoomed in on the east side of the gate and continued, "There's a small hill that provides an excellent vantage point for snipers. We can use that to take out their sentries and gain a foothold on that side."

One of the team members asked, "What about their heavy artillery?"

Rodriguez replied, "We've detected some anti-aircraft guns, but we can take them out with precision airstrikes. We've already requested air support from the UPKF, and they're on their way."

"Let's do this," Rodriguez said, taking a deep breath. "We have the element of surprise on our side. Let's use it to our advantage."

Lieutenant Rodriguez and the Sword Legion approach the North Gate of the capital city of Aaria with caution. The sun is beginning to rise, casting a warm golden glow over the city, but the tension in the air is palpable. As they approach, they can see the massive gate towering above them, with a fortified wall stretching out on either side.

The gate is heavily guarded by Lithium Gruppo di Rivoluzione militants armed with AK-47s, RPGs, and other advanced weapons. The rebels are spread out in strategic positions, keeping a watchful eye on any approaching threat.

The gate itself is a massive steel structure, reinforced with concrete and covered with spikes to deter any would-be climbers. It's clear that breaching it will not be an easy task, but it was for sure not an impossible one.

As they get closer, they can hear the chatter of the rebels, speaking in a mix of local dialects and broken English. The sound of their weapons being loaded and cocked adds to the tension in the air. They can see the details of the reinforced wall and the fortified towers that are strategically placed along it.

The area around the gate was barren and devoid of any vegetation, with only dirt and rocks scattered around. It was clear that the rebels had cleared the area to create a clear line of sight and fire.

As they got closer, Rodriguez noticed that the gate had been reinforced with metal plating, making it almost impenetrable. The Sword Legion soldiers fanned out and took up positions behind rocks and other natural barriers. The rebels' presence was palpable, with discarded ammunition boxes and spent shell casings scattered around the area.

Lieutenant Rodriguez contacted Sergeant Williams, who was stationed in the control room overseeing the Sword Legion's movements. "Sergeant, we've got valuable intel on the north gate. We can strike at their weak points and breach their defenses," Rodriguez said, displaying the live feed to William through a hologram.

Williams nodded as he analyzed the footage. "It's risky, but it might just work. We'll need to coordinate with the Dreg division to hit them from both sides. And we need to move fast before they can reinforce their position."

"Agreed," Rodriguez said. "I suggest we order the Dreg division to bomb their side of the gate which is the South Gate which mediately patrolled and retreat to the east gate, which is currently undefended. That will draw their forces away from the north gate and allow us to breach their defenses."

Williams considered the plan for a moment before nodding in agreement. "Do it. I'll relay the orders to the Dreg division and coordinate with our ground forces here."

Meanwhile near the South Gate:

The Dreg division, led by Captain Johnson, got their orders from Sergeant Williams it was only five words :

"Rain destruction on the South Gate."

"Fire at will," Captain Johnson ordered over the radio as they got a green signal from the Sergeant himself.

As the Dreg division moved in, they fired their disintegrator missiles. These missiles used molecular destabilization technology to break down matter at the atomic level, reducing their targets to dust. The rebels' defense was no match for this advanced technology, and their barricades were soon reduced to rubble.

Next, they fired their hyperspace missiles. These missiles used hyperdrive technology to phase in and out of existence, making them nearly impossible to intercept or evade. The rebels' communication systems and weaponry were quickly disabled by these missiles, leaving them vulnerable to further attacks.

Finally, they fired their solar flare missiles. These missiles released a burst of energy that mimicked a solar flare, causing massive damage to electronic systems and blinding anyone caught in the blast. The rebels were disoriented and unable to retaliate as the Dreg division continued their assault on the gate.

The sound of gunfire and missiles filled the air as the Dreg division unleashed its full firepower on the gate. The rebels tried to fight back, but they were no match for the Dreg's advanced technology and weaponry. The gate shook with every hit, and soon cracks began to appear on its surface.

"Keep firing! We need to bring this gate down!" Captain Johnson bellowed.

The Dreg division continued to rain down missiles and gunfire, and finally, with a deafening explosion, the gate collapsed in a cloud of smoke and dust.

"We did it! The gate is down!" a soldier shouted over the radio.

But Captain Johnson knew they couldn't celebrate just yet. The rebels would be regrouping and retaliating soon enough. "Fall back to the east gate!" he ordered. "We need to hold that position!"

The Dreg division quickly retreated to the east gate, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. Captain Johnson knew that the battle was far from over, but for now, they had gained a critical advantage.

While the Dreg Legion was firing its missiles, let us look at it from the rebel force's perspective :

The rebel force stationed at the South Gate watched in horror as the Dreg division unleashed its missiles. The sound was deafening, and the ground shook beneath their feet. The air was filled with smoke, dust, and the acrid smell of burning metal.

A rebel soldier, who was manning a nearby barricade, saw a bright flash of light and shielded his eyes. He knew that this was not a conventional missile; it was far too powerful for that. He heard a hissing sound, and then his entire field of vision turned to white. He stumbled backward and fell to the ground, his ears ringing.

The Solar Flare missile had done its job, blinding anyone caught in its blast radius. The rebels were caught off guard and disoriented, making them vulnerable to the next wave of missiles.

The Hyperspace missile phase-shifted in and out of existence, making it nearly impossible to intercept or evade. The rebels fired back with their own weapons, but they were no match for the Dreg's advanced technology.

The Disintegrator missile was the final blow. The rebels watched as the gate started to crumble, cracks forming on its surface. They knew that they had lost this battle and that the Dreg division would soon be marching through the ruins of the gate.

"We need to retreat!" one of the rebel commanders shouted