Chapter 1: Rucidia Island Pt.2 of 4
Wind roaring past him, Fredric races towards the face of the planet. Only about three kilometers left, almost there. Rucidia grows from a spot in the distance, to an actual landmass expanding in front of him. The small platoon is now separated, each group over their rally points. But a few seconds before Fredric should deploy his parachute, the winds over the island shifts. Originally within about thirty meters of the rest of his team, the distance soon becomes almost one hundred meters. He recalls part of the briefing while on the ground, "Wind conditions are unstable. If you are blown off course and are unable to return to your designated location, again, radio silence. Don't blow the operation." Determined not to reveal the raiding party, Fredric maintains radio silence. He feels as if he is about to fall to his death, but resists the urge to activate his parachute. The wolf checks his altimeter. Just a little more...now! Fortunately, his parachute doesn't give him any trouble. The wolf lands near a pond, and heads towards the rally point - a dock at the southern tip of the pond.
Fredric arrives at the rally point without a hitch. The rally point is just right next to a dock that showed up in a reconnaissance photograph at the briefing. Fredric crouches behind some vegetation next to a tree and surveys his surroundings. He could barely see the dock in the low light environment. With the sun just emerging over the horizon, there aren't any civilians around about.
"Tssst!" a voice says in the darkness. Fredric shoulders his rifle. "Fredric!" the voice says.
A figure emerges from a nearby bush. It's Mack, a wolf, followed by Lenn, a fox, each pointing their M22a3 assault rifles at him to be sure. It's the rest of his team. They've evidently been waiting for a while since they already took off their oxygen masks.
"You landed pretty far away?" Lenn asks. Fredric also takes his mask off.
"Not really. Landed at the other side of the pond."
"Enough chatting, the whole operation's waiting on us. Let's get to the railroad." Mack says. With that, the three-fur fireteam heads for the railroad. They keep close to the ground as they leave the vicinity of the pond, disappearing into the midnight forest.
Initially, the team stays close to a dirt path. It snakes through the humid jungle, nearby plants threatening to reclaim the lost territory. Soon the three furs lose the privilege of the meager path and have to create their own trail through the dense vegetation. They silently move through the foliage, continuously maintaining awareness about their surroundings. Fredric can even feel the heavy humidity in the air, choking his body. It's relatable to standing in a steam room, except his gear is covering everything except his face. None of it makes the high humidity any better. The wolf feels strangely calm in the jungle, with the chirping of insects, and the world now lighting up around him. The environment is familiar; he recalls the times he went hiking in the wilderness with his father. The cool high-altitude air, ambient sound of wind whistling through the trees, strange calming sensation induced by the wilderness, those were all such good memories. He still keeps an eye out for any Arcanians soldiers who might be patrolling the jungle, but simultaneously relives his memories from times long ago. The sun slowly creeps up the sky now surging with colors. Exfiltration for all Trunician soldiers will begin later today.
(.....)
"Today is the day," the uniformed wolf said. He stood at the front of the small room, sweeping his eyes across the thirty-two in the room. Just two weeks ago, he was in this room looking at more than fifty individuals selected for the operation. "You will jump from an experimental variation of the C10 tactical transport you are familiar with. It has special plating that will make it almost invisible on radar. It is a money and time expensive aircraft. Losing the aircraft is not an option. Therefore, maintaining radio silence is essential. When you make the jump, assemble above your rally points on the way down. But remember, wind conditions are unstable. If you are blown off course and are unable to return to your designated location, again, radio silence. Don't blow the operation."
The wolf pointed at a location on a large map behind him labeled "Airport". "Everyone except 3rd Team of Squad B rallies here." He pointed at four buildings on the map. "Objective for all of Squad A is the airport. You are to prepare to take and temporarily hold the airport." He pointed at a series of buildings at the airport. "1st and 2nd Team of Squad B will prepare to take and temporarily hold the airport's train station."
The wolf moved to another map, and pointed near a dock at a small body of water. "3rd Team of Squad B will land here. As you know already, are designated as 'Knife Team'. You will then go south to this railroad and follow it into an underground facility." No one knows if the facility is underground. Recon just showed that the railroad suddenly disappeared into the jungle, so presumably there is an underground facility there. "There will be a train with the weapon in a container. Find a way to board and start the train. Broadcast the news when completed. All other forces will perform a coordinated attack on the airport when the message is received. Knife Team will defend the train and contents until it reaches the airport's train station. Do not allow the container holding the weapon to be damaged. Squad B will retrieve the weapon when it arrives. There should only be one container, and it should be obvious. If not, search them, but again, it is imperative that the weapon is not damaged."
Imperative was an understatement. The point of retrieving the weapon unscathed is not only to study it, but also because if it were to be damaged, the results can be catastrophic. "The point of the mission is the retrieval, not destruction of the weapon Arcania is developing," he continued. "Two C22s heavy transport will be on standby until the train reaches the airport. They will then land at the airport and get the package and everyone out. No evidence is to be left behind indicating the presence of Trunician soldiers. We are close enough to war already. Dismissed." No one said anything as the paratroopers filed out of the room. Before the platoon leader could exit, the uniformed wolf motioned for him to stay.
"No evidence we were on Rucidia, is that clear?" the uniformed wolf said after everyone else had left. The platoon leader nodded. "And remember," he continued. "The weapon cannot be damaged. We can't risk anything happening to it."
"Yes sir," The platoon leader replied, and left the briefing room.