GATE: Thus Freedom was Summoned

Chapter 13

February 15th, 2043
Huisede Islands, USS America

Off the coast of the Huisede Islands, the top deck of the USS America was abuzz with activity as alarms were going off. Her Marine Expeditionary Unit was being deployed.

The islands, they had learned from MARSOC teams, were filled with unnatural hostile wildlife. Some had reported encountering beastfolk inhabitants who were forced here by the Rukans, while others had exfilled from their assigned islands for redeployment to where the action would be taking place after finding no signs of intelligent life.

Due to the islands being heavy on foliage, no ground vehicles would be available as the terrain would make navigation for them next to impossible. On the deck, MV-38 Condors and an MV-60 Pelican were loading up on marines, MQ-27s, AGRs, and CLAW Mk IIIs. Several marines in M-60 armor were boarding the large VTOL aircraft carrying M134s and a piece of equipment they made themselves.

The Beastslayer.

The Beastslayer was a handheld M2HB machine gun marines had modified with a massive pistol grip, foregrip and stock to allow them to carry the weapon around as if it was an assault rifle. Their power armor made up for the excessive recoil and weight of the weapon.

This new weapon gave something for Axis and Communists militaries to worry about now that the infamous M2 machine gun was no longer just stationary or limited to vehicles. It was now handheld in the hands of marines. It also worried them how it was marines who had built it rather than some arms company to manufacture them. About five hundred of these terrifying pieces of equipment existed within the USMC, with more rumored being constructed by engineers within the corps.

AH-1Zs and UH-1Ys were being made ready for takeoff and to provide support with F-35Es standing by to provide CAS. Mark VI patrol boats along with RHIBs were being deployed from the sides of the ship with a Mk 39 35mm Bushmasters at the bow, two M2HBs, two M134 Miniguns, a single Mk 47 Striker, and two Hellfire missiles on rails. More assets would be deployed with additional reinforcements still available in the ship.

"Captain! All aircraft checking in as ready for take off! Should I give the order to launch?"

"Affirmative Lieutenant! Launch them all, then ready the F-35s to provide CAS! Pilot, get us airborne now!"

From inside one of the UH-1Ys, Captain Garrison gave the commands to the MEU to depart and take off. His lieutenant onboard sent out the signal over radio and authorized for the aircraft to deploy and head for the islands.

From the sides of the LHA, the Mark VI board were dropped from their cables and unleashed into the water, where they drove off from the larger ship and steamed east towards the islands.

On the flight decks, turboshafts and turbofan engines cranked to maximum power as the aircraft took flight and made for the islands carrying aboard them marines and drone assets for the eradication about to take place.

Six Vipers, four Venoms, four Condors, and a single Pelican took flight and flew in formation. As they departed, eight F-35Es were being transported onto the flight deck via the side elevator platforms as their afterburning turbofan engines powered up and switched to VTOL mode for takeoff.

This force was only the beginning of what would be coming as the America had called for back up from MOB Bravo. Another ship was being sent with another Marine Expeditionary Unit to increase presence and assist in removing the hostile wildlife from the islands, but they would take thirty eight hours to arrive. Until then these were all that was available with the LHA's destroyer escort standing by for naval barrage and missile strike coordinates from air or ground forces.