With a pounding heart, Murak looked at the Tello-01, which was on fire. He had been a sailor for eight years and had gone through countless naval battles,but this was the first time he had seen a frigate turn into a bonfire in just a few breaths.

Then, slowly but surely it turned into a silhouette under a yellow glow before totally disappearing.

'I need to quickly notify the destroyer squadrons that the opposing side can track targets in a thick fog. Their fire tactic is also insanely accurate and dangerous.' A sharp determination flashed in Murak's eyes as he ordered, "Faster! We need to move faster."

"""Aye sir!"""

The oarsmen fully understood the importance of Murak's message, so they doubled their efforts in rowing the small boat. Not long after that, a bow of two destroyers appeared and the small boat had to align its course to the gap between the two destroyers. Wasting no time, Murak stood up and raised the lantern in his hand.

"Watchers!" Murak shouted to the sailors armed with bows and arrows above the two destroyer's bows. "I'm messenger from Te--"

Bang! Bang! Bang! B-bababaang!!

Murak didn't have time to finish his words. He reflexively threw his lantern and dropped his body onto the small boat's floor, as a series of explosions suddenly hit the destroyer's bow. Each explosion created a hole as big as a watermelon, sending wood chips in all directions, and only stopped when the front section of the destroyers wide gaped like an alligator's mouth.

"What the fuck!!" Murak dropped his jaw as water flowed into the destroyers like a flood.

In an instant the destroyers' speed dropped, and as the front section sank the rear section lifted. Sailors, footbowmen, ballista crews, slavewomen, slavechildren, and anyone on the destroyers' upper deck helplessly slid or rolled forward into the water.

Swears and curses immediately filled the air, along with the begging of help from slavewomen or cries of slavechildren who were struggling with all their might to float.

But Murak didn't have time to listen, let alone help them. He had an important mission to accomplish. With a slightly trembling voice, he ordered, "Don't stop! We need to warn the transport ships."

"A-aye, Sir," replied the most senior oarsmen.

The small boat glided smoothly between the two destroyers which were sinking deeper and deeper. Not long after that, Murak saw a bow of two transport ships, and a lot of sailors on the deck who were looking in the direction of the sinking destroyers.

This time, Murak immediately shouted the warning, "Stop!! The opposing side can see you. The destroyer alre---"

Bang! Bang! Bang! B-bababaang!!

Another series of explosions was heard, and a moment later the two transport ships slid to the bottom of the sea, along with most of its passengers.

"Gods who reside in heaven, please show us some mercy," Murak weakly muttered as he witnessed the convoy of transport ships carrying the 3rd Landing Troops sank in a rapid interval.

---

When Captain Hans saw 40 units transport ships broke away from the main convoy and snuck to the second landing area, he immediately sent Sierra Three to greet them.

The Sierra Three consists of 4 units M1151 M249 and 4 units M1151 Mk 19, led by Lieutenant Pierre, took position 80 meters from the shore, and each pair of Humvees forms a triangle.

From one of the M1151 M249, Lieutenant Pierre calmly observed his target using a tablet. And he took a deep breath when he found that there were at least 30 human shields on each transport ship.

'The fuck!!' Lieutenant Pierre cursed quietly.

The tactic used by Captain Hans to deal with the ships protected by human shields was to punch holes in its bow and sink it without destroying it. With this tactic, he hoped that the slaves would have a chance to survive.

Of course, it was only a slim chance. Because finding the direction to the beach when the whole area was shrouded in thick fog was not easy, even for experienced sailors. Therefore, Lieutenant Pierre considered another tactic, and he was deep in contemplation when one of his men radioed him.

[Siera 3-2 to Sierra 3-1, do you copy?]

"Loud and clear, Sierra 3-2 go ahead."

[Sir, our target has just entered the effective range of Mk 19, requesting permission to engage.]

If Lieutenant Pierre adopted Captain Hans' tactic, then with the help of aerial reconnaissance the vehicle commanders would guide the grenadiers to place the point of impact on the targeted ship's bow. But he had already made up his mind to adopt a different tactic.

"Denied," Lieutenant Pierre replied calmly. "We will wait until targets are 200 meters before our nose. Then, let's nail selected targets using M110A1. Hopefully, it will roll them back to their cave.]

[And if they don't roll back to their cave, Sir?]

"In that case, we will light them up in earnest."

[Copy that, Sierra 3-2, over and out.]

In the TF Amethyst doctrine, vehicle gunners and vehicle grenadiers were required to have sharpshooter qualifications. With a standard headshot at 300 meter and centermass at 500 meter.

As soon as Lieutenant Pierre gave the order, the assistant gunners and grenadiers immediately took over the M249 and Mk 19 on the humvee. While the shooters prepared their M110A1, then placed it on top of the humvee's hood together with four ready-to-fire magazines, M320 Grenade Launcher, and spotter's high-power observation scope.

They also placed two folding chairs behind the M110A1, then sat in one of them and casually loaded the 7.62x51 mm match grade round into every available M110A1's spare magazines.

As for the vehicle commanders, they took on the role of spotters. First, they gather with other spotters to determine the designated area for each team. Then, they sat next to their shooter as they sketch their designated area and divide it into some sectors, complete with range measurement and other details.

When the designated area sketch was completed, it could be said that the spotter's task was half finished, and the waiting began. A few minutes before the convoy of 40 transport ships entered the designated area, Lt. Pierre pushed the PTT button on his radio.

"Sierra 3-1 to all Sierra Three, we already have green for collateral damage, but let's bear in mind that collateral damage is our last option.]

[Sierra 3-2 to Sierra 3-1, my shooter will not draw innocent blood.]

[Sierra 3-3 to Sierra 3-1, copy that.]

[Sierra 3-4 to Sierra 3-1, received and understood.]

…

…

…

[Sierra 3-8 to Sierra 3-1, beer and body count without innocent blood in the mix.]

After taking a deep breath, Lieutenant Pierre then pressed the PTT button once more.

"Good, let's kill as many legal targets as possible so they abort their landing attempt, and beer is on me when we return to Lagra City, Sierra 3-1 over and out."

---

By using a high-power thermal imaging scope, Lieutenant Pierre observed five transport ships that entered his designated area. A moment later, he found his first target. A man who seems to be receiving a report.

"Tango challenged, leading ship, at the bridge, third person from the left."

Wasting no time, Sergeant Dalton directed the thermal scope mounted on top of his M110A1. "Leading ship, at the bridge, third person from the left, I have eyes on tango."

"Range, 198 meters and approaching fast. Wind, eight miles per hour pushing forward."

After some swift adjustment, Sergeant Dalton replied, "I have tango inside."

"Send it."

BANG!!

A split second later, Lieutenant Pierre saw the glass window in front of the target shattered, and the target froze for a second before tumbling to the side.

"Nail to the head, target expired, stand by."

"Roger, target expired, stand by."

A moment later, Lieutenant Pierre found the second, third, and subsequent targets, along with other teams who were also starting their precision shooting.

Bang! Bang! B-bababang!!

Loud 'Bang!' immediately heard alternately, accompanied by faint flashes in the middle of thick fog. And in a rapid interval, targets on the transport ship's bridge nailed one by one.

When targets in every bridge ducked, hid, and disappeared from the view, spotters directed shooters to aim for sailors, archers, and other targets on the upper deck. Of course, these targets didn't just wait for their death. They launched a retaliation by firing arrows in all directions sporadically.

Clank! Clank! Cla-cla-clank!!

Most of the arrows landed in the middle of nowhere, but some landed on the roof of the Humvees or even just a foot next to the shooters. However, the shooters and spotters did not budge. Their expression remained calm like still water, as they nailed their target one by one.

While ignoring the arrow that had just grazed his shoulder, a shooter calmly aimed at a sailor who was holding a slave children high in front of him.

"I have tango inside."

"Send it."

BANG!!

The shooter could not immediately see the results of his shot, because his M110A1 would slightly jerk after each shooting. Fortunately, his spotter was beside him to inform him.

"Nail to the knee, target expired, stand by."

"Roger, target expired, stand by,"

The shooter then observed the boy who was still crying and sat beside the sailor who was clutching his knee. Relief immediately filled his heart, 'Live Kid, as long as you live then all possibilities will remain open.'

Relentlessly, the shooters continued to launch the precision shooting. When the 7.62x51 mm match grade round ran out, they immediately switched to the standard round of M240, and the drivers helped load it into the magazines.

However, eight shooters were too few, and the 40 transport ships continued to move forward without slowing down. Until they reached a distance of 50 meters from the shore, and neatly lined up in the area where the sea was only as deep as the chest of an adult.

It was a type of landing when transport ships had to deliver the landing troops as close as possible to the shore, and the ship and its crew were ready to be sacrificed for the success of the landing.

Then, slowly but surely the front section of the transport ships opened downward, and dozens of cavalrymen immediately jumped into the water. With a steady pace, they crossed the waters to reach the shore.

'Fuck! They were sent to flank our retreat line.' Realization came to Lieutenant Pierre's mind, and he immediately pressed the PTT button, "Sierra 3-1 to all Sierra Three, use tear gas and don't let a single cavalrymen reach the shore."

[Roger.]

[Roger.]

…

…

…

[Roger.]

Wasting no time, the shooters switched to the M320 Grenade Launcher. They quickly loaded tear gas rounds and shot it blindly.

Thumbs! Thumbs! T-t-thuthump!!

Almost simultaneously eight tear gas rounds shot into the air, making a huge arc through the thick fog, landed in the water, and spitting out tear gas. Unfortunately, all of the tear gas rounds landed too far from the opposing cavalry.

But it was to be expected, and by using the first point of impact as measurement, the spotters corrected the shooters' aim.

Thumbs! Thumbs! T-thu-thump!!

This time, all tear gas rounds landed in front of the opposing cavalry. Likewise with the second, third, and fourth salvos. Chaos and panic immediately fell upon the opposing cavalry and their advance came to a halt. Several cavalrymen fell from their horses and some even got stepped on by their comrades.

Wasting no time, the shooters immediately exploited the circumstance to slaughter them. Unfortunately, before all targets could be nailed, they withdrew to the transport ships which then retreated to the open seas as fast as they could.

"Damn." Sergeant Dalton cursed after he took a mouthful of water from his water canteen, "Their cavalry don't use human shields. We should showered them using M240."

"Honestly, I forget we have MG," Lieutenant Pierre openly admitted.

"Please, ignore my rambling, Sir. Our objective is area denial, and we did it well."

"Yeah," Lieutenant Pierre nodded before pressing the PTT button, "Sierra 3-1 to all Sierra Three, good job everyone."

*****