THE DESTRUCTORS: OPERATION 01

The Destructors, the Cody Experience.
[[EXTRACT FROM THE PERSONAL DATATRACKS OF CODY (A.K.A. THE COMMANDO) CODEX A5-GX]]

  When all is said and done, the brutal business of war comes in only two forms. There is the formalized engagement between large regular formations, with their strict uniforms and stricter hierarchies. And then there is the other mission of the irregular, small scale unit, with its unorthodox tactics and its unusual weapons. There have been unconventional forces since the fires of war were first stroked, forces like the Destructors.

THE DESTRUCTORS is an elite commando team which is frequently(and repeatedly)sent in to the most hopeless situations in order to cause maximum casualties for the enemy before the F.S.O.F. teams pull out of the combat zone. The Destructors are also the last-ditch resort commando team sent into worlds where the Megabots have effectively won, intended to ensure the enemy suffer heavy losses before they fully conquer the planet. They are often the best option as The Destructors are armed with heavy firepower weaponry(such as Gatling Laser Cannons and Starlight Missile Launchers) and their nearly-invincible Heavy Armoured Assault Carriers [HAAC], which can lay waste on entire Megabot armies and has the best operational records, as they have successfully retaken several worlds and have no teammate KIA or MIA in the past few years.
  The Destructors are often seen as a rough-and-tumble group of fighters and combatants that aren't afraid to get into escalating battle to get the job done, but in actual fact, they have proven themselves time and again as a powerful team with a strong leadership, as they have fought proudly under the Republic banner and helped to push back several Megabot forces before they reach the Inner Human Colonies. Although their methods are more callous than standard military engagements, The Destructors are respected for their tenacity and bottomless courage as well as their unyielding resolve to bring peace for the Republic. [It is known that some of teammates suffered heavy injuries in battle, but so far none of them died.]
  Consisting of cool-headed fighters like Frederic and John to powerful warriors like Andy and Beatrice, a strong hand is often needed to keep The Destructors in line and maintain their devotion to the F.S.O.F. , and this extremely important(and competent) position is filled by the incomparable Cody, whose convictions and excellent leadership were the bonds that held the unit together through numerous problematic times. Cody kept The Destructors at the ready, and doing what they do best: fighting the good fight. The Destructors worked and fought valiantly as an elite rapid-deployment military and police(occasionally)unit, handling situations where heavy firepower and decisive strikes meant the difference between victory and failure.

[NOTE: THE FOLLOWING STORY IS FROM CODY'S (Codename THE COMMANDO) Point of view]
  I am Commander Cody and this is the true story of every single operation my Destructors and I have gone through, and our heavy firepower weapons and special tactics. No matter what anybody asked, I can’t give away specific details; it is to protect our secrecy.

The Destructors is a group of specially trained soldiers (men or women, I won’t tell) sent on desperate combat conditions or when heavy fire support is needed.
So far we have been sent on quite a number of missions, due to the fact that the Republic has lost their footing on the battlefield against the Megabots and other problems that are usually classified. We are usually sent by drop pods, but ever since the Republic was loosing ground, the pods have become redundant and the Destructors, including me, have came up with a new way of “saying hi” to our enemies. This tactic dubbed hot-drop is using our Heavy Assault Armor (H-AA) as the pods themselves, before impact we will activate our outer perimeter shields to dissipate the force and impact of the landing, hot-drops are currently used to either crash directly onto our target and fight our way out, or land outside and fight our way in.
  Our weapons are of the heavy side, both on the weight and firepower. The thing that people say that the Destructors have zero percent casualties are no doubt false, because there is no such thing as an invincible army, anything that can be made can be broken up. I experience a couple of losses in my “career” but even more success due to our training and strategies.

[[NOTE: There are "acceptable losses" in battle, but sometimes, losses are not acceptable.]]

OPERATION 01: (******CLASSIFIED******)
It was our first operation as the newly formed Destructors and to be honest, I myself didn’t feel good on this op due to the fact that 90 percent of the target area is taken by the Megabots and the only ones between the walking tin cans (the republic troopers dubbed the Megabots tin cans) and that 10 percent is us and a couple of standard infantry. I walked to my second in command, Mikes and asked for the combat status, he looked at me and said “Well sir, we’re still put on stand-by until they are really desperate. Seems like infies (infantry) like get their asses slotted.”
  I could not believe what I was hearing, the infantry only had 10 percent of their ground left and they’re still not desperate, I turned to Mikes and told him get the soldiers ready for hot-drop with or without orders.
  “Sir, I appreciate the concern, but according to Republic military laws that’s mutiny.” replied Mikes in a serious, but respectful tone in his voice.
  “I’d rather commit mutiny than let a bunch of lunatic soldiers die. Now get everyone ready for hot-drop now.” I replied in a stern tone.
  “Roger” said Mikes, without another question, and he immediately departed for briefing room.
  I then walked down to the armory to get my weapons and armor, and the first thing I saw was a fully suited up Destructor towering a good 12 feet looking at me, I knew who was behind the armor,
  “C’mon now are going into action or what Cody?” it said with an eager voice.
  “Calm down Beatrice, we’re just getting ready and you’re already suited up.” I said.
  Up till now after getting to know everyone in my squad, I have no idea if Beatrice is a guy with a girl’s name or, a girl with a guy’s voice. I guess the time will come sooner or later when Beatrice’s identity is revealed.
  I got into my bulky H-AA armor and looked at my HUD and checked that the armor systems are running online, and then I gathered up my weapons and got to the makeshift drop bay, which is an empty bombing bay. I have yet to consider building a hot-drop bay for our ship, the Kasumi. The weapon I favor was the RG-46 rail spike gun; it fires a super-heated 20mm lutetium (Lutetium spikes are the hardest metal in the Republic army forces) spikes at 5 rounds per second, with a 120 round clip. Our standard sidearm was a lutetium bolt pistol, which fires 10mm bolts and besides the standard Railguns we also carried our own crafted sword made out of titanium reinforced with lutetium, and it makes pretty short work of the enemy if it comes to the last resort.
  I made my way down to the makeshift drop bay I looked at my men, all of them watching me eagerly.
  “Alright men, this is our first operation but we’re going to make it a good one. However I must tell you that we are actually acting against orders” I paused and waited for their respond, nothing, I continued “So get your asses out there and kick some metal dicks!” I finished, and a roar of agreement came from the crowd of soldiers.
  Just then Mikes’ voice appeared in my comm. device
  “Sir are you ready for launch?” he asked in an, I’ve-got-a-bad-feeling-about-this tone.
  “Drop now” I confirmed.
  Just then the floor below me disappeared and is replaced by the night sky, illuminated by fire fights and explosions. I held on tight to my weapon and everywhere I turned I can see hundreds of destructors falling into the night sky. I looked down and I could see the ground zooming up to me, I quickly lock my target sights at a mass of Megabots and fired as many rounds as possible before the H-AA self preservation shield pops up to absorb the impact of the landing. I was just about near to an empty clip when the shields popped up and I crash landed onto the ground creating a massive crater and dust cloud, which usually serves as a decent cover. As I held my ground I could see my fellow hot-droppers rocketing down beside me and firing their automatic railguns from the moments they were in the skies to the moment they hit the ground. I activated my optical sensor which allows me to see through smoke and other objects, and took out my RG-46 and fired into the smoke cloud in front of me. Through the optics I could see Megabots faltering and falling in crumpled heaps as the 20mm spikes riddled their metallic bodies, the sound of my rifle was almost music to my ears as it spat out super-heated lutetium spikes with the rhythmic chatter of an assault weapon, before long my weapon clacked empty, I reloaded automatically and leaped out of the swirling smoke in front of me and scanned the area for targets. Silence filled the barren land, just then assault fire broke the illusion of serenity I turned to the source of fire and saw Beatrice unloading his gun into a lifeless chassis of a fallen Megabot.
  “Hold your fire Beatrice” I ordered.
  But Beatrice did not seem to register the order and continued unloading a full clip of 120 lutetium spikes into the Megabot.
  “Hold your fire Beatrice!” I ordered once more.
  He stopped immediately and reloaded his rifle I then took a quick scan of the battlefield and ordered my scouts to look for the infantry men, as my scouts Craig and Raze went to search for them I turn to my soldiers and did a mental head-count, so far no one lost yet.
  “Alright men I need Xavier, Shaun and Brooklyn to hold position and use this crater as a rally point for reinforcements” I paused for awhile to consider “and use stationary guns to hold this area.” I added.
  “Yes sir” they replied in union.
  “What about the rest of us sir?” Beatrice asked.
  “Isn’t that obvious, the rest of us follow me and take out the Megabot weapon factory, we’ll try to salvage equipment along the way.” I answered.
I divided my men into three squads, namely alpha, bravo and charlie squad. The plan is to use alpha and bravo to attack the Megabot factory from the front and rear, while charlie will attack from underground into the enemy. I was in charlie squad so speed is of the essence, as we have to soften the enemy from inside before alpha and bravo run out of men. I tapped into fleet comm. to talk to my tactical officer (TO), Mikes.
  “This is the TO of Kasumi what do you need ground troops?” Mikes’ calm voice filled my helmet speakers.
  “Listen Mikes I need a subterranean assault vehicle at my coordinates.”
  “Roger that.” He replied back. His tone never changed, even since the time in our training days.
  Before long a tempest class carrier ship flew to our position and dropped an ant lion APC, which allows us go underground within seconds and is armed with .30 cal machine guns and tube-launched, optically-guided, wire-tracked missiles (TOW). I got to the driver’s seat while my men loaded themselves into the back and manned the weapons onboard.
  I activated the pressure control and the ant lion sank into the ground and drove towards the factory; guided by out ship’s imaging I burrowed our way into center of the Megabots’ factory. Just then my helmet comm. broke,
  “Sir this is Craig and Raze, we have failed to retrieve the infantry squad, they were wiped out while we were landing onto the planet’s surface.”
  “In that case, return to these coordinates and hold position until further instruction.” I ordered.
  “Affirmative.” replied Craig.
  I sent the scouts our rally point and waited for Alpha and Bravo’s word.
  “Charlie squad, are you guys having a picnic or what? We are in need of your assistance!” Beatrice shouted over the deafening sound of war.
  “Affirmative Alpha squad.”
I activated the pressure control once more and out burst thrusters, a thick column of air blew us out of the sand and dirt, while we lunged out of the ground my gunners already opened up their guns to any megabot foolish enough to fire at us. To be percise, Megabots are not foolish, they are in fact programmed for war.
  “Sir! We’re loosing ground! We need reinforcements!”  David, the leader of bravo squad shouted through the comm.
  I took a moment to consider and called for Foxtrot, which is also a heavy weapons team but they use mark XXI custom paladin armor instead of our heavier H-AA. Seeing no other option, I hit the reinforcements COM and requested Heavy reinforcements. I got what I wanted in a couple of seconds later.
  “Hey Cody, you called!” Alfred shouted.
  “Yeah, we need you and your men to bust this place up while I support bravo squad.” I said after dodging an incoming Megabot shell.
  “Fine by me.” Alfred replied.
  Alfred is the leader of a special group of soldiers of the F.S.O.F regimental squad, called Foxtrot demolitions, Alfred’s squad houses a wide arsenal of heavy weaponry, ranging from grenades to sub-nuclear detonators.
  As I maneuvered towards Bravo squad, I found that I was too late, I ordered my men to keep firing while I rushed to bravo’s last position. I saw Bravo squad scattered everywhere, fortunately the rear defenses are down. I ran to David’s side, his H-AA was riddled with AP rounds and pock marked with energy beams. I knew that he was already dead but I use my heads up display (HUD) to check for life signs; there were none. I looked down and slammed my armored fist unto the ground in frustration.
  Just then the familiar sound of jet broke my trance; I looked up and saw over a dozen drop-pods crashing into the factory grounds. Alfred and the cavalry have arrived. Guns blazing they combed the base of all resistance.
  “So what have I missed Cody?” Alfred asked while firing a squall-5 grenade launcher at the Megabots in the distance.
  “Not much.” I said, joining in the fight to avenge Bravo squad. I fired my RG-46 at an oncoming megabot assault squad, I looked at my HUD which also keeps track of the ammunition of the weapon I’m using and it shows that I am running low on ammo and fast. I discarded my rifle and drew my bolt pistol and ran towards a flock of Megabots amassed outside their factory, my chances of survival is slim but I’m buying the destructors sometime to fallback and regroup with Foxtrot. I fired and ran at the same time; the Megabots did not have time to react as I leapt into the center of the group, pulled my sword, Squall, from my hip and swung it in a great arc in front of me neatly cleaving seven unsuspecting Megabots in halves. The surrounding Megabots drew their blades locked in a deadly sword skirmish. Metal clashed against metal as my sword Squall met theirs; their simple steel swords are however no match against a sword forged with titanium and lutetium, thus smashing through their swords and their metal bodies. While I was busy blocking off blows delivered by a type of megabot called speed breakers, another group of canned electronics sneaked up behind me, but my HUD alerted me before they could even get near, in one swift movement I drew my pistol and shot the speed-breaker in his face and swung my blade backwards; slicing a megabot behind me in half. As I brought my sword in to stance, a missile flew out of nowhere and blasted everyone of those tin cans form hell back to hell, I looked for the source of the missile and found my savior, Michael piloting a GAT-X32S Swift fighter, he strafing run with his fighter’s onboard auto-cannons and plasma cannons.
  “Thought you could use some air support” Michael said cheerfully as flew over the base delivering deadly munitions to the enemy.
  “And where did you come from?” I asked him
  “Comwealth’s orders. You should know better than me.” he replied back.
  “Affirmative.” I answered
  I looked around for my ant lion and for Charlie squad, seems like they’re doing fine with Foxtrot and Michael.
  Later, I received a emergency transmission on my COM link. “This is Admiral Alexander of the Stargazer super carrier to all ground units, you must clear the area by 2200 hours as we are about to commence orbital bombardment on the megabot structure with our plasma orbital artillery cannon, this is Admiral Alexander over and out.” That is good news, but however, when you are in the battlefield fighting the Megabots, it is the bad news.
  I quickly tagged my teammates with my HUD and set the rally point at our hot-drop crater. They all acknowledged with green lights and quickly ran to the crater to be picked up by Kasumi, I ran away from the base as quickly as possible and as fast as I can. I saw Alfred rounding up Foxtrot and also heading for Kasumi. I looked up in the sky and Michael was gone with the wind. I ran towards the rally point and saw to my relief, Kasumi waiting patiently for us to get onboard. Thanks Mikes, I said silently in my heart and quickly got up the ramp. As we were taking off I saw blazing balls of rolling plasma slamming onto the Megabot factory, incinerating it as well as the bodies of those who fell where they stood. I turned away from the scene of destruction and silently mourned for bravo squad while I made my way to the bridge of Kasumi and left the godforsaken planet.
  “Boy, I sure hope supper’s ready at high command; I’m starving.” Mikes said while we jumped into G-space towards F.S.O.F Orbital High Command.
  “I’m sure it is Mikes.” I replied, with a smile on my face.