Aces In Exile

**Chapter Nine:

General quarters**

"Attention, commander on deck!" Called the marine at the door. Every person in the briefing room stood rigidly and saluted.

"At ease, all of you." Artemis said as he approached the podium and looked over the faces of every person in the room.

"Today, at approximately thirteen hundred hours, government loyal forces were forced to fall back inside of the embassy and are currently under siege, along with diplomats from many of the other countries. From what we have been able to gather, there are around thirty vip's and nearly two hundred troops inside." The commander informed them as a topographic of the operation area appeared on the screen behind him, highlighting the embassy and possible locations of enemy forces.

"Now, the rebels don't know we're coming, so we can count on the element of surprise, therefore, Runner flight will be going in with a compliment of marines for security, meanwhile, Blue, Red and Green flights will provide close air support. It is unknown if the enemy has any air assets at this time, so load outs will consist of a mix of air to air and air to ground weaponry. After securing a perimeter, the Pride will come down and stay on station above the building to provide fire support and to help get everyone aboard faster. Are there any questions?"

Artemis looked over everyone in the room, but everyone knew their jobs, they had trained for such rescue operations, so not one raised a hand.

"Sir, we are now on station above the capital." Informed the navigator as the commander entered the room. "Very good, sound general quarters." He ordered the comms officer. "Aye sir." He replied. "All hands, general quarters, general quarters, all hands man your battle stations!" Came the call over the intercoms as klaxons sounded all over the ship.

Gunners manned the ships defenses, marines boarded the landing craft and took stations at key points aboard the ship. Pilots scrambled to man their craft, and various hatches were sealed.

"Red flight, ready for takeoff." Red flight's leader called to flight control. "Roger Red, cleared for launch, good luck." They replied as their flight was launched off the ship, making way for the next flight to be brought up on the elevators. "Green flight, ready to go."

"Roger Green, happy hunting." Away they went, as Blue flight was brought up next. "Blue flight is green, awaiting order."

"Copy Blue, hit em hard." G-force quickly pushed them into their seats as they were catapulted off the front of the ship. Last up was Runner flight. "Runner one here, all checks complete, ready for liftoff." Blake called. "Copy that Runner, you are cleared, safe journey, beers on us when you get back." Replied flight control. "Copy, Runner flight, taking off." He answered as the four craft lifted off the flight deck and descended towards the city.

"KEEP THAT DOOR SEALED! IF THEY GET INSIDE, WE'RE ALL DEAD!" Called a minotaur officer to the troops he had barricading the front entrance. All around, the sound of gunfire from single shot muskets and the twang of crossbows could be heard as the troops were desperately trying to hold off the rebel forces. "Sargent, have the pony diplomats gotten any reply from Canterlot?" He asked his second in command. "Yes sir, it came through a little while ago, they are sending aid and we should be expecting it shortly."

He replied as he fired out a window. "How shortly?" He asked, but his answer didn't come from the sargent. Instead, it came from the sound of roaring engines and the impacts of twenty five millimeter, armour piercing and high explosive shells rapidly impacting the ground and bodies among the hoard of rebels trying to break into the embassy.

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"This is Green flight, gun run complete." Announced the flight leader. "Roger that, this is Red flight, ATG missiles locked, shoot, shoot, shoot."

Red flight's leader called as his flight each released a single air to ground missile from their internal bays, which quickly descended and impacted the ground among the enemies further away from the building. "Enemy airships sighted, two o'clock low, approaching the target area." Called Red two as he checked the radar.

"Targets are identified as hostile, cleared to engage." Replied captain Leona from the command bridge as she and the commander watched the battle on a display. "Copy that, Blue flight, follow me in." Alzack ordered as he banked towards the approaching war balloons. "Target the cabins, missiles will just go right through the balloons." He told them.

"Roger sir." They all replied. "Blue one, fox one.", "Blue two, fox one.", "Blue three, fox one.", "Blue four, fox one." They called as four missiles left them and speeded towards the four approaching ships. The seeker heads combining radar and infra red guidance into one, leading them all directly into their intended targets. "Blue one, four kills to Blue flight, airspace is clear." Alzack called as they roared back to altitude.

"Runner flight touching down, marines away." Blake called as the back hatch opened on the four landing craft, each dispensing a squad of ten marines each. "Weapons free, engage at will." Sargent Marcus ordered as each of them opened fire on the rebel minotaurs with their SIMAR's (Standard Issue Marine Assault Rifle), quickly forcing them back across the street and away from the wall of steel, magnetically launched projectiles. "Drop zone is clear, ready for pickup operation." Marcus informed the Pride as she descended and took her station above the embassy as marines led the ambassadors first to the open bays of the FTUC craft.

"Gunners are cleared to engage marked hostiles and any dumb enough to be out in the open, do not fire on buildings unless cleared to do so." Ordered Artemis to the gunnery crews as the landing craft lifted off with their first load. "Fools! They're escaping, kill them!" Bellowed one of the rebel leaders as he charged the rescuers with a group of his soldiers. "Mount eighteen, engaging targets." Called the gunner in one of the twin one hundred millimeter mounts. High velocity, explosive shells impacted among the group, blowing every last one of them to bits.

Not a single other group tried to interfere with the rescue operation, in fear of the sheer amount of firepower they would have to go through.

"Sir, Runner flight reports all rescue targets and marines are aboard and accounted for." The comms officer told the commander.

"Good, pilot, take us up and set course for home base. Comms, have medical send doctors to check on any wounded. Good work all of you."