After finishing his lunch, Colonel Meyer went to bathroom in the first floor. However, in the middle of his way a waitress showed him a way to the hidden room next to the cellar. There, Major Petrov had waited for him. He was still wearing his apron and sitting before a long table.

“Welcome to Makai Royal City, Old Mate.” Major Petrov happily said.

After looking at Major Petrov from the head to toe, Colonel Meyer immediately smiled before saying, “Petrov, you look exactly like local people.”

“Can’t help it, my job is to become local people.”

“Yeah,” As he sat in front of Major Petrov, Colonel Meyer said, “Before we go to the main point, I have to tell you. I won’t replace Tiffany.”

“Why?”

“She is a good officer.”

“For conventional warfare, yes, she was an excellent officer. For a discretionary warfare, she is dynamite that cans explode at any second.”

“True, but now I’m here.” Colonel Meyer firmly continued, “I know how you carry your work, and you know how I carry mine. Together, we will prevent another incident with locals while putting Makai Royal City on the plate.”

“Fine. I will put my trust in you.”

When the two was on CIA, Major Petrov had working together with Colonel Meyer a few times. So he knew that Colonel Meyer was an expert in handling an operation that required a delicate touch. In short, Major Petrov didn’t need to worry Captain Tiffany would made another cowboy action.

After taking a deep breath Major Petrov then asked, “So, what menu do we have?”

“A lot,” Colonel Meyer happily replied. “Destroying military infrastructures, killing a prince, burning Makai Royal Palace to the ground if we have to, even capturing King Makai XXII is on the menu.”

“That’s a lot of menu.”

“Yeah, and I will need map of Makai Royal City, map of Makai Royal Palace, along with other seasoning to cook it.”

“The maps you need, my men have started to draw it since four months ago. As for other seasoning, I will do my best to provide it.”

“Very well.”

Major Petrov tapped the table for a moment before asking, “If we arrive at a point where we have to neutralize military infrastructures inside Makai Royal City, can you give me the job?”

“My pleasure.” Currently, TF Amethyst had limited amount of smart munitions. So, if Major Petrov wanted to take an action on target in the urban area, Colonel Meyer would support it. “What do you need?”

“I have enough firearms, ammo, and C4. Just spare me dozens of mortar rounds.”

“Got it.”

“I will also need direct action element.”

“How many?”

“Two teams of 12 men each, have experience on black ops. They will use sewer as their main route, so give me guys from Tunnel Rat.”

“Sorry Petrov, I’m not sure I can get some guys from Tunnel Rat for you.”

“Why?”

“Harley Quinn had deployed Tunnel Rat to Sandhur Region. They would operate under Chief Nate’s direct order as a whole unit.”

“Get me CQB guys then.”

Colonel Meyer immediately nodded. “Charlie Company right now is on standby in Woodpecker. In operation to seize Terry Hill, they adapted to underground tunnel pretty well.”

“They will do then.”

“Good,” Colonel Meyer happily said. “I’ll ask General Rayden to send some of them here.”

“Thank you.”

“I will also support your policy on relationship with locals.”

“I thought that policy will make you mocking me for being too soft.”

“Well,” After taking a deep breath Colonel Meyer continued, “Too often crashed on hellhole and did lot of unspeakable things have turned us into the meanest motherfucker on earth. Even still, we are professional motherfucker, not just mindless amateur.”

“Understood.” Major Petrov nodded and smiled.

After some small talk, Colonel Meyer and Major Petrov then ended the meeting.

---

West side of Penna Hill

04:10, 5 Nov 2025

Six week had passed since Colonel Meyer arrived in Jack Sparrow. Every day, he would spend his time preparing Tiger Leap. Making sure Jack Sparrow was ready for it to its highest capacity.

Last night, air defense platoon worked to assembly the 42th Ripper Station. They completed the job just an hour before sunrise. And as usual, Colonel Meyer went to observe the test run personally. In casual walk, he entered black pine forest in western side of Penna Hill. It took about 20 minutes before he arrived in front of a platform made of aluminum.

The platform had a measurement of 3x3 meters, guard rail on each side, and was supported by telescopic pillars. On the middle of the platform, a unit of Ripper Station stood silently. The configuration was M230 30 mm, 7-tube Talon Launcher, electro optic, and an auxiliary power unit.

After taking a glance at the crew who had been waiting for him, Colonel Meyer said, “Captain, let’s start the test run.”

“Aye Sir.” Captain Martin happily replied and then gave the crew of Ripper Station to conduct the test run.

Wasting no time, two Tuscan Guards rotated the big wheel on one side of the platform. As the big wheel rotated, the telescopic pillars smoothly went upward. Once the platform slightly passed the natural canopy made of Blackpine’s peaks, one of Tuscan guards immediately locked the big wheel in fixed position.

At the same time, the other Tuscan Guard announced, “Ripper is ready and set.”

Wasting no time, a member of air defense platoon used the remote console to point the Ripper Station to all direction and angle, followed by search, track, and visual observing using electro optic. After that, Command Center took over the control and integrated it into the whole air defense network and ran it in full autonomous mode.

As the Ripper Station was working perfectly fine, the crew then returned it to the initial position and covered it using camouflage tent.

“Well done, Captain.” Colonel Meyer made a satisfied smile before asking, “Do you need additional Tuscan Guard?”

“Unless we receive another battery, hundred and fifty Tuscan guards who knew how to assembly and reload Ripper Station are enough.”

“Well, we won’t receive another Ripper Station.”

“In that case, I will make sure air defense platoon maximize what we have,” Captain Martin calmly said.

“Good,” Colonel Meyer briefly replied.

Both Colonel Meyer and Captain Martin appeared very calm, but they knew for sure Jack Sparrow didn’t have an edge in contest against opposing Rider.

Forty two Ripper Stations were big fire power, and the plan to counter opposing Rider was also solid. Talon would intercept and broke the formation of incoming Rider. Then, when they try to re-orient their position to their target, Ripper Station would shower them with combo Air Burst-Tracer and Armor Piercing-Tracer.

As for the Cloud Hawk that fell in the perimeter, bowmen from Tuscan Guard would nail them using neurotoxin arrow. This plan was simple, but it could hold the advances of 300 Riders in one go.

The problem was, at this moment Makai Guard possessed around 2300 Riders, while a dozen Regions in the radius of 300 km from Makai Royal City had at least 500 Riders each. If they attacked Jack Sparrow in big numbers, some would definitely penetrate the air defense network.

“As long the opposing side doesn’t possess long range air to ground ammunition, we will survive.” After heaving a deep sigh Captain Martin continued, “Of course, it will not without some casualties.”

“Captain, it’s a war, casualty is inevitable.”

“Understood, Sir.” After a moment of silence, Captain Martin then asked in a low voice, “Sir, talking about casualty, I heard we suffer a heavy lost in Levsait a few days ago.”

“Who did tell you that?”

“Lieutenant Reznik, he also told me that my sister was one of the casualties in Levsait, and those animals put her head on a spike.”

“Sorry for your loss, Captain.”

“Aye Sir.”

After heaving a deep sigh Colonel Meyer explained, “The opposing side launched a tunnel attack and IDG rather too late in sniffing it. We suffered 104 KIA, including eight officers, mostly were from Logistic and Support Group.

Tuscan Guard suffered 383 KIA, while Buriek Guard lost around 1600 combatant. We also had to smash Buriek Guard HQ and Tuscan Guard HQ to the ground.”

As cold gleam flashed on his eyes, Captain Martin asked, “When will we return the favor, Sir?”

“Soon,” Colonel Meyer calmly replied. “Other than map of Makai Royal Palace, we are more than prepare to return the favor.”

In an instant a grin bloomed in Captain Martin’s lips. “Glad to hear that.”

Then, Major Alfred suddenly came out of tree line. In a hasty step he approached Colonel Meyer and said, “Major Petrov had just completed map of Makai Royal Palace.”

After slightly nodding his head Colonel Meyer said, “Let’s contact Woodpecker. It’s time to launch Tiger Leap.”

*****