Camp MaelstromCamp Maelstrom was a base set up in the foothills of the Alps on the Vaguzian side of the border with East Moreland, it was jointly staffed by Achkaerinese and Vaguzia personnel, its mission was simple - to deny the Borland Separatists and other terrorists that operated in the area the ability to use Vaguzia as a safe passage in and out of the Alps, it was the tightening of the noose around the Separatist threat well at least theoretically speaking it was. The base's CO was
Brigadier Indigo Scott, who had just been woken up in the middle of the night, she was also well past complaining about it given that this happened frequently, she stepped into the command centre of the base still pulling her uniform jacket on over her black t-shirt, her eyes drawn to the screens at the far end of the room, they were showing a night vision image of a clearing in some woods.
"What have we got?" Indigo asked
"One of our
Owls picked this up about five minutes or so ago."
Lt Colonel Sebastian Brandt said, he was the senior officer after Indigo so got the night shift most of the time "Looks like some sort of exchange."
"Based on?" Indigo asked
"The truck arrived from one direction, the car from another and something's been moved from the car to the truck." Sebastian said
"So if this is an exchange the supplier is the car driver and the recipient is the truck driver." Indigo said
"Could be drugs, money, weapons." Sebastian said
"What does local knowledge say?" Indigo asked
"Terrorists but that's all we're getting." Sebastian said
"Notify the air strike to take the truck." Indigo said "But let's take the car in one piece. And get the VIA on the phone I want to know why they're holding out on us."
Above West MorelandTwo
Gr.11 Dragonbane aircraft were circling around the area, the air support was one of the main thrusts in the operational strategy of Maelstrom, in the main it was preventing supplies reaching destinations. Flying the two aircraft were
Captain Larissa Bond and
Pilot Officer Clay Stanley, callsigns
Lightning and
Magician respectively. It had been a fairly routine flight for the pair of them, nothing had really come up.
"Control to strike flight come in please." Sebastian's voice came over the radio
"Lightning copy." Larissa said
"Magician copy." Clay said
"Target of a truck leaving wood clearing in grid reference T-12." Sebastian said "One to neutralize over."
"Copy that." Larissa said
"Other to assist in monitoring car leaving same clearing." Sebastian said "Ground troops being scrambled. Out."
"I'll take the truck you take the car." Larissa said
"Copy that." Clay said
Larissa acquired the truck on her scopes as the two planes entered the area, she waited until it was clear of the wood and on a road before swooping down, she heard the tone indicating weapons lock and fired, the truck went up in a larger explosion than Larissa had expected, she pulled her plane sharply into a climb and levelled off at altitude.
"Lightning to control." Larissa said "Target destroyed, be advised explosion was bigger than expected probably combustible cargo."
"All received" Sebastian said
Back at Maelstrom Indigo and Sebastian shared a worried look, something about this didn't smell right to them.
"I've got a bad feeling about this." Indigo said