Operation Control Room B1, 3rd Floor Main Building, Harley Quinn MOA.

1605, 31 Jan 2025

After he gave a short briefing, Vex rushed to Operations Control Room B1, and during the last few hours he was directly leading the execution of Operation Little Guest.

"Intel from Sergeant Heinz confirms Reaper's aerial footage. The bandits' base is in a valley that separates Rowane and Lionel Region. Unfortunately, they have already transferred their previous catch to Rowane Region."

Vex scanned the area on the map that Lt. Colonel Julius pointed out before saying, "There's nothing we can do for the villagers who have entered Rowane Region."

Lt. Colonel Julius took a deep breath before answering, "Understood."

"What about the kids in Medic Quarter?"

"Most of them started to calm down, but the smallest few started to cry when they remembered their parents. Medic Quarter officers decided to send them home as soon as possible. Some paramedics would be with them, and in a few minutes they would be leaving."

"Have Lieutenant Lambert and his unit guard the settlement tonight, then rest all air assets that do not participate in the final phase."

"Understood."

Lt. Colonel Julius nodded, while Major Maxwell from Intelligence & Diplomacy Group approached Vex.

"Now, it's only a matter of time before Harley Quinn's whereabouts are discovered. So, can IDG start taking the initiative?"

"I don't mind, but if we have to go offensive make sure the motive is worthy."

"Roger," Major Maxwell smiled cheerfully before returning to his seat.

—

Hangar H26, Harley Quinn MOA

1658, 31 Jan 2025

Major Duran calmly sat in the F/A-18E Super Hornet's cockpit. While listening to the briefing, he entered coordinates of the target.

When he first flew the Super Hornet in Amstell Continent airspace, Major Duran for the first time understood the ups and downs of World War II fighter pilots who had to fly without GPS/INS assistance, and only rely on maps, compasses, or landmarks.

Once he got lost, it was highly unlikely that he would be able to return to base. Therefore flights could only be carried out during the day and must not exceed the Ground Control radar range, which guides the pilots.

As an ex-USAF pilot who used to operate with the flexibility to determine the route's and tactics to be used, Major Duran could not help but become awkward when he had to operate under Ground Control's direction. Especially since they provided the instructions and information in analog form.

Gone was the digital and network-centric, which had become combat tactics' main foundations for USAF fighter pilots.

Luckily the situation didn't last long. As soon as P-8 Poseidon was in operation, the mapping of Amstell Continent was immediately carried out. The entire planet's longitude and latitude have not yet been determined, but the mapping department did not lose initiative and made their own latitude and longitude for the basis of Inertial Navigation System (INS).

With INS entry into the system, Major Duran and the pilots of Flying Puppy Squadron regained their combat effectiveness. One of them was the ability to use the JDAM that works using INS/GPS guidance.

While Major Duran and his three colleagues studied and determined the route to the target, the ground crew swiftly prepared the packages that had to be sent as well as refilling the fuel tanks.

The package chosen was GBU-32 JDAM which used the General Purpose Bomb Mk.83 as the base. Mk.83 has a total weight of 454 kg of which 30-40% of that weight was explosives.

In this airstrike, GBU-32 JDAM would be guided using INS with an accuracy of up to 30 meters. INS was less accurate than GPS which had an accuracy of 13 meters. However, because GBU-32 had a fragmentation radius up to 200 meters, a 30-meter miss could still be categorized as accurate and deadly.

To this day, TF Amethyst had never used INS for offensive purposes, be it artillery strikes or airstrikes. Operation Little Guest would therefore serve as a measure for TF Amethyst airstrike effectiveness.

The Flying Puppy Squadron's rapid sortie capabilities would also be tested in Operation Little Guest, such as installing weapons and refilling the fuel tank when the aircraft's engine was running.

Rapid sortie was impossible if Super Hornet engine was turned off. Because once the aircraft's engine was turned off, a total check must be carried out before the aircraft was allowed to fly again.

The inspection not only took time, around 8-48 hours depending on the aircraft's age, but also consumed manpower, costs, and other resources. This complexity was what led to the birth of the air refueling, which costs much cheaper.

When the briefing was finished, the Super Hornet's fuel tank was also already fully filled while the package was ready to go.

One by one the four Super Hornets took preparations for takeoff, and before long all four of them were already in the air.

—

Typically, fighter pilots would approach the target by flying as low as possible to avoid radar contact. However, because there was no radar on the Amstell Continent, Major Duran and his three colleagues chose to approach the target from an altitude of 30,000 feet or about 10,000 meters.

With a distance less than 40 km away, it only took a few breaths before the formation arrived over the target, then Major Duran gave the instructions.

"Send the package."

Thirty-two GBU-32 JDAM instantly fell free to their coordinates and ensured that every inch of the targeted camp was enveloped in the firestorm and deadly fragmentation.

Major Duran and his colleagues did not need to check the results of the attack as that was not their job. Instead, they had to quickly leave the area. Therefore they would be able to carry out the next sortie if the damage was deemed inadequate.

To check the airstrikes' result, the task was assigned to MQ-9 Reaper, and once the bombing results were sent to operations control center, intelligence officers and analysts immediately concluded that the target had been completely destroyed.

Vex agreed with the assessment and plans for the second sortie were scrapped.

—

Ludwig Valley, borders of Rowane and Lionel Region.

1726, 31 Jan 2025

"Witchcraft, meteor shower, volcanic eruption, or Flame Dragon?"

Jeffe really couldn't understand what had just happened to the camp where his comrades were on standby. Because right now, the place looked like it had just been swept away by a firestorm.

He was tasked with checking why the contingent who had previously announced their success via courier, and was on the way had not arrived even though the sun had set.

Jeffe truly hates the assignment as leaving the camp after sunset could make him end up in Gray Wolf's belly.

However, he had only been out 4 km away when a very loud boom was heard, and when he looked back his gaze was greeted by flash after flash that made the night sky flicker incessantly.

Jeffe then steeled his heart and decided to check out the camp he had just left, and one thing that came to his mind was.

"There is nothing left."

Cold sweat ran down on Jeffe's back as he imagined the entity that turned 850 Sidewick Cavalrymen to charcoal and ashes along with their horses and camp.

"I have to get out of here quickly and report what happened."

Jeffe muttered before spurting his horse towards Rowane Region.

As for his comrades who hadn't arrived at camp yet, Jeffe assumed that they would never arrive. So there was no point in him waiting.

—

XO Office, 4th Floor Main Building, Harley Quinn MOA.

0905, 2 Feb 2025

Without knocking first, General O'Neil walked in and sat directly before Vex. "I've read Operation Little Guest's report. The results are pretty good and we haven't lost any assets at all."

"Yeah, but I failed to save hundreds villagers who were already brought into Rowane Region."

"Don't be too hard on yourself."

Vex took a deep breath before saying, "If I tell you one of the kids who got into Medic Quarter reminds me that I once made a child lose his father.

And to ease the regret in my heart I tried to prevent the child from losing his parents through Operation Little Guest, will you regret giving me the authorization?"

General O'Neill tapped his fingers for a moment before answering, "A philosopher once said that the biggest victim of war is truth, but my experience during my service shows that the biggest victims of war are children.

Several times I helped those poor children, but more often I acted like a coward by hiding behind the rules. So if you ask me if I regret authorizing you, the answer is no. Whatever the reason, Operation Little Guest also eases the guilt that has been buried deep in my heart."

"Thank you."

Vex immediately breathed a sigh of relief. He was burdened by the fact that Operation Little Guest would hasten potential conflict with the local authorities, but now the burden has lessened a little.

As he pulled out a bottle of 8-year-old Armagnac from his desk drawer, Vex said, "I also intend to convert the settlements we help into farmland and ranch. I'll submit the details tomorrow morning."

General O'Neil accepted a glass of Armagnac offered by Vex as he answered, “You don't need to hand over the details to me first. ”

"Understood."

Vex smiled, then together with General O'Neil he cheerfully took a sip of the Armagnac.

*****