Day 16 - 0545 Hours / 5:45 AM – Exit of Fort Hope (Sanctuary Hills) going to Outpost Rocket Stop – (Red Rocket Truck Stop)
—————————————————————
Jake's HUD Updated:
'Summoned Soldiers: 117/265'
'Summoned Combat Nikkes: 1/90'
'Summoned Vehicles: 50/110'
'Summoned Combat Robots: 0/40'
'Summoned Civilian Nikkes: 5/75'
—————————————————————
Before the Strategy Meeting started around 0226 Hours / 2:26 AM, Jake had Summoned Six Helicopter Pilots for either Close Air Support (CAS), Anti-Armor Operations, Armed Reconnaissance, Or even Armed Personal Transportation.
Jake had Summoned Two AH-S64 Apache Reapers & One Armed Personal Transport AH-53E (SBS).
—————————————————————
The pre-dawn air was cold & smelled of ozone and diesel. The assembly area near the 'New Hope Bridge' was a hive of controlled activity. Engines rumbled as the armored column formed up, The treads of the Bradleys chewing into the dirt.
Jake stood by the lead vehicles, Two M3A4 Assault Bradleys with the two M3A3 Bradleys & two M3A3-M Bradleys. "Alright! Quickly quiet down!" Jake says as the Soldiers quiet down & in the background laser shots & gunshots go off in Concord.
"Looks like I'll have to make this quick… This Operation, named Liberty Spike will hopefully be simple… Ok! We have three squads Alpha Flanker [AF], Bravo Flanker, And Charlie Heavy Team [CHT].
Alpha Squad being One M3A3 Bradley & One M3A3-M Bradley will take the Main Road East, Alpha Squad will continue to the second turn & continue on the South Road there Two Squads of Four-Man Team will dismount from the M3A3 Bradley & M3A3-M Bradley from there your Squad Leader will decide what plan to do!
Plan One! Plan East Cut Off. This Plan will act mainly to stop any enemy potential reinforcements from the North East & East, With One Squad watching the South West to watch the road & the Raiders making sure not to be flanked by them. As for the Two Bradleys, One will watch the road South West & the other will watch North East & East. If you all look at your ATAKs (Android Tactical Assault Kit), You'll find what I am explaining easier to understand now.
Plan Two! Plan South Push. This Plan will have Alpha Squad move through the destroyed buildings & sneak to the Raiders, killing as many as you can before completely engaging them. Again the Two Bradleys, One will watch the road South West & the other will watch North East & East for enemy reinforcements." Jake explained the Battle Plan to them, And continued. As more laser shots & gunshots go off in Concord, And sped up the battle plans.
"Bravo Squad being One M3A3 Bradley & One M3A3-M Bradley will take the Main Road South, Bravo Squad will continue to the first turn & there Two Squads of Four-Man Team will dismount from the M3A3 Bradley & M3A3-M Bradley, The Two Squads of Four-Man Team with the M3A3 Bradley & M3A3-M Bradley will continue down the road South. As the Two Squads of Four-Man teams will enter the old buildings find windows to shoot out of on the main road, As for the M3A3 Bradley & M3A3-M Bradley they'll be watching West, South-West, And South. And lastly Charlie Heavy Squad…
Charlie Heavy Squad is Two M3A4 Assault Bradleys. But, One will take the Main Road East will continue to the first turn & Three-Man Squad will dismount to protect their M3A4 Assault Bradley from enemy Raiders & The other squad will take the Main Road South and continue to the first turn & Three-Man Squad will dismount to protect their M3A4 Assault Bradley from enemy Raiders. Both Charlie Heavy Squad East & South Squads will hold positions, Reason… From UAV reconnaissance their is movement in the sewers & it's large approximately Seven Feet & Eight Inches, The name of these creatures is Deathclaws. Luckily for us, There is only One Deathclaw as far as we know of now.
Aphla, Bravo, And Charlie will have Reserve Squads Ready to move in if needed, Those being Fireteam Red Rocket Task Force, Personnel Count: 20 (10 Line Infantry / 10 Reconnaissance). Assets: 2x M1296 ICVD Strykers (Line), 2x M1127 RV Strykers (Recon)." Jake explained the reserve squads & readiness, As Jake finishes with air assets.
"Pilot Officer Dash will be orbiting around the pre-war town of Concord to provide Close Air Support & Armed Reconnaissance, With her Co-Pilot Sol Davis in the HH-60S STEALTH Hawk. The two assigned minigunners will provide the Close Air Support, As Pilot Officer Dash will be orbiting around Concord. In the Command Vehicle will be Chief Advisor Twilight & Assistant Chief Advisor Nora, That will be all! To your battle stations!" Jake said finishing the battle plans.
—————————————————————
Day 16 - 0555 Hours / 5:55 AM – Just outside of the Town of Concord.
—————————————————————
Jake when he was alone summoned the MTF Alpha-1 (The Red Right Hand), A Ten-Man Team. That will only listen to Commander Jake & Chief Advisor Twilight's Orders, As for Jake. He planned on following Bravo Squad to the South with MTF Alpha-1.
The pre-dawn gloom was thick with the smell of ozone and the low, Rumbling idle of powerful diesel engines. Jake Maxis stood alone for a moment, The weight of his command heavy on his shoulders. The plan was solid, the assets were overwhelming, and his tactical advisor was a combat-ready android.
With a thought, He accessed the specialized deployment menu on his Pip-Pad, navigating to the restricted [Special Operations Command] tab.
"System, Deploy MTF Alpha-1 'Red Right Hand'. Designation: Commander's Personal Guard. Location: Immediate Proximity."
The air shimmered with a deep, Crimson-tinged distortion, distinct from the standard blue-white fabrication light. Ten figures materialized around him in a tight, Protective circle.
These were not standard Minutemen. They were clad in advanced, Matte-black heavy combat armor with deep red accents on the pauldrons & visors. Their faces were completely obscured by high-tech, full-seal helmets equipped with multi-spectrum optics. Each operator carried a Customized MCX Spear-22 suppressed rifle, a sidearm, and specialized breaching gear. They radiated an aura of elite, silent lethality.
—————————————————————
Jake's HUD Updated:
'Summoned Soldiers: 127/265'
'Summoned Combat Nikkes: 1/90'
'Summoned Vehicles: 50/110'
'Summoned Combat Robots: 0/40'
'Summoned Civilian Nikkes: 5/75'
—————————————————————
The lead operator, Designated Alpha-1-Lead, stepped forward & gave a single, sharp nod. No words were exchanged; None were needed. Their loyalty was absolute, hard-coded into their very existence.
"Alpha-1, On me. We're moving with Bravo Squad, But we operate independently. Secure the flanks, watch for ambushes, and keep me alive. Let's go."
The silence of the morning was shattered as the armored column surged forward. The M3A4 Assault Bradleys of Charlie Heavy Squad rumbled down the main road, Their 25mm chainguns traversing, scanning for targets with their 105mm Main Cannon watching the Main Road.
"All units, Execute Liberty Spike. Go, go, go!" Jake's voice crackled over the comms.
Bravo Squad Execution:
Following Bravo Squad's advance, Jake & the ten silent operators of Alpha-1 moved with practiced fluidity. The two M3A3 Bradleys of Bravo Squad rolled past the first intersection, Their heavy treads crushing the debris of two centuries. As planned, the ramps dropped, and the infantry squads spilled out, instantly securing the nearby ruined storefronts.
"Bravo-Lead to Command. First turn secured. Dismounts are moving to cover, No contact yet." The squad leader reported.
Suddenly, The crack of small-arms fire erupted from the upper windows of the buildings further down the street. Red laser beams & crude ballistic rounds pinged off the Bradley's armor. "Contact front! Multiple hostilities in the Museum & surrounding structures!"
"Bravo Squad, Return fire! Suppress those windows! M3A3s, Light'em up!" Jake ordered, Ducking behind the cover of a rusted Corveta sedan as Alpha-1 formed a Queue of Fan Formation around him.
The M3A3 Bradleys roared in response. Their 25mm Bushmaster cannons thumped rhythmically, Sending high-explosive rounds slamming into the brickwork of the buildings. Masonry exploded, And screams cut through the morning air as the Raider ambush was met with overwhelming technological superiority.
Alpha Squad Execution:
To the east, The sound of heavy gunfire echoed as Alpha Squad engaged the Raider reinforcements.
"Alpha-Lead reporting. We have cut off the eastern approach. Engaging a Raider patrol attempting to flank. They... they didn't expect a tank, Sir. It's a slaughter…" The Alpha Squad leader reported, His voice tight but controlled.
Charlie Heavy Squad Execution:
Near the center of town, The two M3A4 Assault Bradleys held the line, their engines growling. The dismounted engineers & support infantry watched the manhole covers nervously, Their weapons trained on the dark openings.
"Charlie-Lead to Command. Position holding. Seismic sensors are picking up heavy movement underground. That Deathclaw is waking up, Sir."
High above, The HH-60S STEALTH Hawk circled like a bird of prey. Pilot Officer Rainbow Dash's voice, Filled with adrenaline and focus, cut through the chatter.
"Command, this is Pegasus-1. I have visual on the Museum roof. Raiders are setting up a heavy weapon position. Looks like a missile launcher. Requesting permission to engage."
"Permission granted, Pegasus-1. Clear the roof!" Jake shouted into his comms.
The Stealth Hawk banked sharply, Diving toward the Museum of Freedom. The side-mounted miniguns spun up with an electric whine before unleashing a torrent of lead. The Raider position on the roof vanished in a cloud of dust & red mist.
"Target neutralized! Whoo! That was awesome!" Rainbow Dash cheered loudly, Before she could revel in her victory, her co-pilot. Sol, Quickly cut in. "Maintaining orbit. Watching for ground movers."
Using the chaos to advance toward the Museum. The Raiders were pinned down, Their crude pipe guns were useless against the coordinated assault of a modern military force.
"We're at the Museum entrance." Jake radioed. "Twilight, Status?"
In the Command Vehicle, Twilight Sparkle monitored the battle from a dozen screens, her mind processing the flow of combat faster than any human.
"All sectors green, Commander. Alpha & Bravo have successfully contained the perimeter. The Raiders are breaking. You are clear to breach the Museum and secure the VIPs. Be advised: Seismic activity in the sewers is spiking. The Deathclaw will surface in T-minus Four Minutes."
"Copy that. Alpha-1, Breach & clear! Let's get those Minutemen out of there!" With a synchronized movement, Two members of Alpha-1 placed a breaching charge on the Museum's heavy doors.
"Alright ladies..." Jake said even though his Squad Aphla-1 only had Five Females & Five Males. "We clear all three floors, Hostiles only shot from the second floor! Minutemen are most likely holding out on the third floor." Jake said, As his Ten-Man Squad nodded ready to go.
BOOM!!
The doors blew inward, And the Red Right Hand surged into the smoke-filled lobby, their suppressed rifles coughing death at the surprised Raiders inside.
"Room clear! Left sector secure!" One Female Alpha-1 Operator said.
"Right sector clear! Tangos down!" Another Female Alpha-1 Operator said.
"Stairwell secure! Moving to the second level!" Male Alpha-1 Operator said.
The voices of Alpha-1 were a disciplined, Staccato rhythm over the comms, a stark contrast to the panicked shouts of the dying Raiders. The lobby of the Museum, Once a place of historical reverence, was now a kill zone. Bodies of Raiders, Slad in scavenged leather & metal, lay sprawled across the tiled floor, their crude ambush utterly dismantled by the speed and precision of the Red Right Hand.
Jake moved in the center of the formation, His CQC M4A3 raised, scanning the upper balconies. He didn't fire; He didn't need to. His elite guard dropped targets before he could even acquire them.
"Second floor, Go!" Jake ordered.
They surged up the stairs, The suppressed thwip-thwip of the MCX Spear-22s continuing their grim work. The Raiders on the second floor were more prepared, But only barely. A Raider with a double-barreled shotgun leaned over a railing, Only to take two rounds to the chest and one to the head from Alpha-1-Lead.
"Contact front! Heavy gunner!"
A Raider in piecemeal power armor–rusted T-45 pieces welded onto a frame stepped out from a hallway, Leveling a minigun.
"Suppression!" Jake shouted, Diving for cover behind a display case housing a mannequin in colonial garb.
Alpha-1 didn't panic. Three operators immediately laid down a withering hail of fire on the Power Armored Raider, The high-velocity rounds sparking off the rusted plating but forcing the gunner to flinch.
"Breacher! Flash out!"
A flashbang grenade sailed through the air, Detonating with a blinding white light and a deafening CRACK! Right in front of the heavy gunner. The Raider screamed, Blinded & disoriented, firing the minigun wildly into the ceiling.
Before the Raider could recover, Two Alpha-1 operators moved in. One fired a concentrated burst into the exposed fusion core on the back of the armor, while the other placed two precision shots into the unarmored joint of the neck. The heavy Raider collapsed with a metallic crash.
"Heavy neutralized. Moving to the third floor. VIPs located!" The Female Alpha-1-Lead reported.
The door to the room where the survivors were holed up was barricaded. From inside, Jake could hear shouting & the occasional laser discharge.
"This is Minutemen Command! Stand down inside! We are friendly forces!" Jake shouted, His voice amplified by his helmet's external speakers.
There was a pause, Then a hesitant voice. "Friendly? With that kind of firepower? Who are you?"
"Open the door, Garvey. Or we'll open it for you!" Jake replied, His tone firm but not hostile.
The barricade scraped against the floor, And the door creaked open. Standing there, Laser musket lowered but ready, was Preston Garvey. Behind him huddled a small group of civilians: Mama Murphy, Sturges, Marcy Long, and Jun Long. They looked exhausted, terrified, and utterly bewildered by the sight of the high-tech soldiers filling the hallway.
"I'm Jake Maxis." Jake said, Stepping forward, his weapon lowered. "And we're here to get you out. But we have a problem. There's a Deathclaw about to pop out of the sewers outside. We need to move. Now."
Preston's eyes widened. "A Deathclaw? We barely held off the Raiders. How are we supposed to fight a Deathclaw?"
Jake grinned beneath his mask. "You don't. We do. Alpha-1, Secure the VIPs. Escort them to the rear exit. Charlie Heavy Squad is holding the street. Get them to the Command Vehicle."
"Wait…" Preston said, Looking at the elite soldiers. "You're... Minutemen? I've never seen gear like this. Not even at the Castle."
"We're the new Minutemen." Jake said, turning back toward the stairs. "And we're taking the Commonwealth back. Now move!"
As Alpha-1 escorted Preston and the survivors down the back stairs, Jake moved to the front balcony of the Museum, overlooking the street where his armored column waited.
"Twilight, Status on the big guy?" Jake asked Twi.
"Seismic breach imminent, Commander. Main street intersection. Charlie Heavy Squad has visual on ground deformation." Twilight's voice came through clear & calm.
RUMBLE... CRACK!
The asphalt in the center of Concord's main intersection exploded upward. A massive, clawed hand, the size of a man, tore through the street. With a roar that shook the dust from the buildings, the Deathclaw pulled itself free. It was huge, a nightmare of muscle, horns, and rage, its skin scarred and tough as iron.
It roared at the M3A4 Bradleys, Challenging the metal beasts.
"All units, Engage! Engage! Weapons Free! Open fire on the Deathclaw! Bring it down!" Jake shouted.
The street erupted. The 25mm Bushmaster cannons of the Bradleys opened up with a deafening THUMP-THUMP-THUMP, Sending high-explosive rounds slamming into the Deathclaw. The beast staggered, Roaring in pain as explosions blossomed across its chest & shoulders.
But it didn't fall. It charged.
It moved with terrifying speed, Dodging the heavier rounds, closing the distance to the nearest Bradley. It leaped, Landing on the front slope of the armored vehicle, its claws tearing at the reactive armor plating.
"Charlie-Lead! Get that thing off my hull!" The Bradley Charlie-Lead Leader said, Still shooting with his 9.52 mm Custom M260 Machine Gun & going through their Belt Capacity of 200 Rounds.
"Pegasus-1! Air support, Now!" Jake yelled.
"Copy, Command! Coming in hot!" Rainbow Dash's voice screamed over the net.
The Stealth Hawk swooped down from the sky, Its miniguns blazing. A stream of tracers connected the helicopter to the Deathclaw, Shredding the asphalt around it & tearing into its back. The beast shrieked, Releasing the Bradley and stumbling back.
"Now! Hit it with everything!" Jake said, With a hint of fear for his soldiers.
Every soldier, every vehicle, every gun in the street poured fire into the creature. It was a wall of lead & high explosives. The Deathclaw, The Apex Predator of the wasteland, flailed under the sheer weight of the firepower. It took one step, Then another, before its legs gave out. It collapsed onto the street with a final, earth-shaking thud.
Silence fell over Concord.
"Target Neutralized!" Twilight confirmed. "Vital signs negative. Concord is secure."
Jake stood on the balcony, Looking down at the smoking carcass of the monster and his victorious army. He took a deep breath of the ozone-filled air.
"Good work, Everyone!" Jake said, His voice calm. "Secure the area. Salvage what you can. We're going home."