Berril Plain, 32 km northwest of Magwurt City.

0830, 23 Mar 2025

At one corner of Berril Plain one LAV Shorad took up position. The LAV Shorad's mission was to become part of the early warning network around Magwurt City, and if necessary neutralized any threats long before they arrived in Magwurt City.

Ideally, for this mission the LAV Shorad should be accompanied by another LAV Shorad or two M1151 Rippers. Unfortunately, due to the limited resources, each check-point around Magwurt City was only guarded by one LAV Shorad or a pair of M1151 Rippers.

The crew dug a hole as deep as ⅔ LAV Shorad while excavated soil was stockpiled around it. That way the camouflage net could be installed as low as possible. And because LAV Shorad was not equipped with air conditioning, when in a static position the driver's hatch and the two rear doors would be opened.

Up to a radius of 50 km LAV Shorad could receive data from the nearest radar station. However, the nearest radar station was at FOC South 860 which was 70 km away, therefore Multi-mission Hemispheric Radar 272 was activated.

MHR 272 has detection capabilities including:

Medium-Size UAV: ​​23 Km

Heavy Transport Aircraft: 60 Km

Fighter: 34 Km

Helicopter: 23 Km

Pedestrians: 10 Km

Medium Vessel: 23 Km

Large Vessel: 40 Km

Apart from its very adequate detection capabilities, MHR 272 also had other advantages over similar products. The radar did not require periodic maintenance when operated. Maintenance could be performed while the carrying unit was being pulled to the base.

LAV Shorad was operated by the same crew of three as M1151 Ripper, but in a different format. The Commander Vehicle was also the sensor operator, the gunner who was also in charge of maintaining the weapons system, and the driver who was also in charge of maintaining the vehicle.

Like any other quiet day, while sitting in the Vehicle Commander seat and fanning his face, Sgt. Dwight observes the Electro-Optic sensing and MHR 272 radar. While gunners and drivers were busy playing cards to ward off boredom.

But the calm inside LAV Shorad was broken when a radio call came in.

The driver immediately started the engine and put it in reverse gear, and was prepared if the situation demanded that LAV Shorad should come out of the hiding hole. Meanwhile, Gunner returned to his chair after closing the rear door tightly.

[Sierra Romeo 8-6-0, Blaster 2-2, comes in.]

Sgt. Dwight pressed the PTT button before answering a call from the radar station at FOC South 860.

"Blaster 2-2, Sierra Romeo 8-6-0, loud and clear, over."

[Blaster 2-2, be advised. . . unknown flight, 78 km northwest, altitude 600 meters, speed 260 km/h, over.]

"Sierra Romeo 8-6-0, understood, permission to shoot down the unknown guest, confirm."

[Blaster 2-2, negative, don't shoot unless your position is threatened, let the unknown guest in, over.]

Since the command center at FOC South 860 wanted to know the guest's intentions, Sgt. Dwight could only comply.

"Sierra Romeo 8-6-0, understood, the door will be left open, Blaster 2-2, out."

Time continued to flow before finally a flicker appeared on the MHR 272 screen. A few minutes later the tablet pc displayed the target captured by EO sensor that works in daylight mode. Without delay, the gunner immediately marks the target then selects the weapon to be used.

The armaments carried by LAV Shorad were:

FIM-92 Stinger, 4 units were ready to fire, and 12 units stored in the cabin.

AGM-114L Hellfire Longbow, 2 units were ready to fire, and 2 others stored in the cabin.

Auto-cannon M230LF 30 mm, with Airburst Tracer or Armor Piercing Tracer ammunition in a dual feed-system.

Light Machine Gun M240 7.62 mm, with incendiary tracer ammunition.

To welcome the approaching target, the gunner selects M230LF with Airburst Tracer ammunition. Once the weapon was selected the locking system was automatically activated, taking aim at targets that casually entered the M230LF effective range.

- - - - -

Rider Orka wanted to curse when this morning he got orders to do a reconnaissance on Magwurt City.

"What do they want to see from a dying city?" Rider Orka grumbled as his Cloud Hawk was gliding across the cloudless sky at moderate speed.

Magwurt City's location was very close to the entrance of Desolate Land. Therefore he may meet a herd of Black Eagles that came out from Desolate Land to hunt him. Given that the giant eagle was very aggressive and territorial.

If that happened, it was unlikely that he would come home alive. Considering that Black Eagle was much faster and stronger than Cloud Hawk.

Without realizing that an angel of death was peeking at him from a corner, Rider Orka flew across Berril Plain, until he finally arrived above Magwurt City and instantly sank into shock.

Dozens of large and small iron carriages ran without being drawn by horses. A smooth, wide, and neat road network, and massive buildings that rose to five floors.

"Am I lost without realizing it?"

Without delay, Rider Orka compared the landmarks around Magwurt City with a map he was carrying. The results turned out to be quite astonishing, for he was not lost.

"The reconnaissance orders were not ordinary orders."

Rider Orka immediately took out recording crystals, then recorded various pictures that he considered vital.

When he realized there was a wide and smooth road that led to the east, without hesitation he followed the path even though he realized it led to Desolate Land.

- - - - -

Western Wall of Magwurt City

As soon as Tuscan Region's higher-ups heard that an unknown flight was approaching, an alert order was issued.

The residents immediately entered the emergency shelter under the Apartment Block, while Tuscan Guard personnel alerted ballistas and scattered archers on the Apartment Blocks' roof or other high buildings.

Even so, every Tuscan Guard personnel were aware that they were at a disadvantage, because Riders could shower their positions using fire arrows from a height they could not reach.

From above the city walls, Centurion Kallie looked at Cloud Hawk which was circling Magwurt City, before looking at Amethyst Merchant personnel who were doing their usual activities.

"Amethyst Merchant personnel seemed unaware of how dangerous the Riders were. A Squadron of 20 Riders could easily scatter a thousand-strong ground force. They must have never heard the phrase 'The best defense against Riders is another Rider.'"

Centurion Kallie sighed silently before murmuring again.

"Unfortunately, before Tuscan Guard's capacity was recovered, an enemy had already come knocking."

Centurion Kallie still wanted to complain, but the Rider who was circling Magwurt City suddenly flew eastward until he was out of sight.

- - - - -

Settlement 116

0835, 23 Mar 2025

As usual, every two days Vex would check the progress of Settlements 116, then teach the children in the settlement.

"Sir."

Lt. Kim Dong Chun saluted Vex who had just disembarked from an M1152, and then reported.

"Vegetables are ready to be harvested, while fruits still have to wait longer. Production of milk, cheese, meat, eggs, and other animal products has also started.

The livestock quality we buy from Lionel Region is a little below standard, but we can still maximize it. The residents here are also fast learners."

Vex smiled before cheerfully saying, "Yes, I've read the report. When Settlement 116 production capacity reaches a full rotation, then we can reduce the food imported from earth by 14%."

Lt. Kim Dong Chun nodded. "I heard that apart from a dam and a few other facilities, we are also planning to set up a second farm and ranch in the mountains south of Magwurt City."

"Yeah, but the plan seems to have to be postponed until next year becau---"

Vex stopped his words when he saw a communications NCO running toward him hastily.

"XO, you're asked to get back to Harley Quinn right now."

"Lieutenant, ask someone to take my place in teaching."

Vex then boarded the M1152 and immediately stepped on the gas heading to Harley Quinn.

*****