Operation Fire Screen 3

Operation Fire Screen (3)

#

"So, where do we deploy first?" Blackshot asked as he approached Cedric. They were standing on the Edge of the Cloud overlooking Earth below. Behind them was the golden gate of Heaven where Saint Peter stood like a statue, ready to strike anyone who will dare to trespass Heaven.
	"Try New Mexico, I heard they have good tacos in there!" Peter yelled as he interrupted the conversation between the two.
	Both Protectorates laughed momentarily. The mirth of their laughter soon died as they focused on the situation.
	"Battlefield Reports stated that the city of Thai Nguyen was currently occupied by a Demon Legion and an Unclean Spirit Legion. The rest were occupied by two Demon Legions each in full strength." Cedric says as he glanced occasionally at Blackshot.
	"So, Thai Nguyen is it, then?"
	"Yeah." Cedric says as he glanced behind. "Let's do a headcount, shall we?"
	"Tier-5 Tribune-Commander Protectorate Blackshot, reporting for duty."
	"Tier-5 Tribune-Commander Protectorate Lightsaber, sound check, over." Crismond says with a grin.
	"Tier-4 Sergeant-Commissar Protectorate Renante, ready to fire, sir."
	"Tier-5 Tribune-Commander Protectorate Digit," Cedric says with an expressionless face. "Reporting for active combat duty. Let's move."

#

The city of Thai Nguyen remained in complete silence as the dead laid motionlessly in the open. The sunrise slowly blossomed into a young morning, illuminating the ignored corpses which were slowly consumed by expiration. One of the burning vehicles exploded, the noise echoed throughout the silent city with no one to listen. Each life was not left breathing. The absence of the crow of the rooster in the morning was strange to those who were used to it. Why would there be roosters crowing if there is nothing left?
	Cedric was the first to touch ground. He slowly stood from the cratered ground, scanning his surroundings for life. Just as expected, there are no living organisms found. No one is left alive. All he sees was death at every turn.
	"I've touched ground, brothers." Cedric says. "Meet me at this coordinates in case you dropped at somewhere far enough." He said, leaving a message to his quiet listeners. For the moment, they are not able to respond but later, he will receive the response he wants.
	He began to move across the city as he hefted his Blast Rifle to bear. He raised it up and made a quick sweep, nothing. He moved across the death-filled city, finger inside the trigger guard.

----

Blackshot stood from a genuflecting position as he reverted back to his Human form. He pulled his Blast Rifle from his back and began scanning around. He wasn't surprised to see many dead people though, but he was slightly disturbed at the abandoned buildings and houses. The ornamental that decorated each buildings were covered in blood. He is not sure what that means. Hell's Forces are in danger of provoking the Monsters or the Deities of this country. He cares not as he began moving elsewhere.
	He was a few feet away from his drop zone when his tactical computer mounted on his left bracer rang. He raised it up at view's length and sees the message Cedric sent. Voice messages can also be translated by the Praetorian Battle Gear to texts which was very useful in insertion phases.
	"Cultural Museum, huh?" He muttered as a light streaked across the sky. Blackshot aimed at it momentarily but when he realized that it was one of his allies, he lowered his rifle and waited for the figure to land.
	"Sir!" Renante saluted as he transformed to his Human form.
	"You don't need to call me 'Sir', Mark II. We need to get to the Cultural Museum of Vietnam at these coordinates..." He pressed a few icons on the screen of his computer. Renante's tactical computer rang. He lifted it up to take a look and nodded.
	Blackshot did not respond any further as he began jogging to the direction of the museum. He was thinking that maybe, the Demons had captured.
	"Blackshot!" Renante called to which Blackshot turned and gave him a look. "Demons!"
	Three Demons in ragged clothing appeared to view. They wore a sleeveless tank tops and a tattered trousers. Their left legs were replaced by a mechanical "foot" and their right hands were attached with a device attached with a chained morning star. The Demons had five horns on their heads, reminding Blackshot of some creature with a resembling description in the Scriptures.
	"Wait, I knew them." Blackshot says as he took aim. "Strongarm Legionnaires." He added as he opened fire at one of them.
	Three shots scorched the chest of the nearest Demon. Another one was fired aimed at the head. Its brethren fought back by launching its morning star at the duo, who dove out of the way. Renante watched in amazement as the spiked ball was recalled back to the Demon's "hand". Renante raised his weapon and fired at the Demon's head four times. He was lucky that all of his shots found their mark, killing his enemy.
	The last one sprinted at them full speed. Blackshot took a peek over a toppled waste bin. He suppressed his breath and let loose five shots, hitting the enemy on its body. It stumbled across the ground with cauterized wounds.
	"Move it, brother." Blackshot ordered as they began sprinting across the street. Renante paused to take a look at one of the dead Demons. Their skins were all covered with scars.
	"Hey, what are you doing?!" Blackshot called over. Renante followed without a word.

As they reached an intersection, Blackshot's eyes darted from left to right. He saw a flipped pickup truck with both doors missing. He moved towards the vehicle and took cover with Renante behind him.
	Across them were a group of five Strongarm Demon Legionnaires sent to investigate the noise. Blackshot took aim and fired at the nearest one. Four shots were fired. Three hit the chest squarely while the last one went wide. Renante did the same as he aimed at his target's chest, firing rapidly and controlling the recoil kick of his weapon. Six shots killed the Demon in an instant. The remaining three turned at their direction and began launching their morning stars at them. Blackshot dashed out of the way as the vehicle was sent in the air when the spiked balls crushed it. Renante was sprinting away from the vehicle, fortunately.
	Renante returned fire, clipping a Demon with three shots to the legs. Two more finished it off with blasts to the face. Blackshot fired as well to assist Renante. Three shots scorched his target's left shoulder. He fired once more, amputating its hand.
	"You've pissed him off." Renante said.
	"Thank you for noticing." Blackshot replied as he fired two more, killing it.
	Renante ended the last one's life with five shots to the chest before its spiked weapon was fully rewound back to its device.
	"Ah great." Blackshot muttered in desperation as four more Strongarm Demons appeared ahead. Three balls of brown smokes appeared to his left. Three more appeared on their right. Blackshot knew they were surrounded.
	"Initiate Attack Protocol 43-9." Blackshot ordered.
	"Yes, sir."