Chapter 120 AC-130 Arrives

120 AC-130 Arrives

As Spooky-1 lined up with the combat zone, the pilot checked in with command, "Spooky-1 to Eagle Actual, two minutes out."

The cockpit was a symphony of alertness, every crew member attuned to their respective roles. The gunship, laden with its deadly arsenal, had one mission now: deliver firepower precisely at the two tangoes.

The weapons systems officer (WSO) kept a steady gaze on the infrared and targeting screens, awaiting the coordinates for the fire mission.

"Copy, Spooky-1," Richard's voice returned crisply over the radio. "Targets are marked by IR strobes. Confirm when in visual range."

"Visual confirmation in one," the WSO reported, the green glow of the screens casting sharp angles on his focused face. His hands moved with practiced efficiency, flipping switches to bring the 105mm howitzer online.

The gunship, an AC-130 known as Spooky-1, was an airborne artillery platform, a far cry from the sleek drones that had so far failed to neutralize the targets. This was a different breed of predator, one that brought with it the rumble of heavy guns and the promise of decisive action.

As the aircraft rumbled into position, the loadmaster checked the howitzer one final time, ensuring it was ready to deliver its payload. The crew's headsets crackled with the final clearance from the ground controller, a voice steady under the strain of combat.

"Spooky-1, you are cleared to engage. Call your shots."

"Roger, Eagle Actual. Engaging," the pilot acknowledged, a touch of resolve in his tone as the aircraft settled on its gun run. The crosshairs on the targeting system tracked steadily over the marked positions as the WSO's voice echoed the finality of the moment.

"Firing."

With a concussive blast that shook the airframe, the howitzer roared, hurling its ordinance toward the earth.

Seconds later, the 105mm shells found their mark, the impact sending up plumes of earth and debris. Inside Spooky-1, the crew felt the distant thuds as much as they heard them, a solid confirmation of the howitzer's deadly work.

"Direct hits," the WSO confirmed, eyes flicking between screens to assess the damage. "Waiting for BDA (Battle Damage Assessment)."

Below, the dust began to settle, and the infrared imagery was recalibrated to pierce through the lingering dirt and smoke. The crew of Spooky-1 watched for any sign of movement, any indication that their ordnance had failed to neutralize the threat as the previous attempts had.

"Eagle Actual, this is Spooky-1," the WSO transmitted. "BDA to follow, standby."

The wait was a span of mere moments, yet to the crew, it stretched, every second demanding their patience and professionalism. They were soldiers of the sky, and their job was not done until the tangoes were eliminated.

"Eagle Actual to Spooky-1, tangoes are still active. They erected another shield wall."

versatile for its rate of fire and effectiveness against both personnel and light armored vehicles. The 16:33

screens in front of the WSO flickered as new coordinates were fed into the targeting system.

"Understood, Eagle Actual," the WSO replied, his voice calm but with an edge of intensity. "We're recalibrating for another strike. We will use a 25-mike mike."

The WSO quickly shifted to the 25mm GAU-12 Equalizer, a five-barrel Gatling-type rotary cannon, versatile for its rate of fire and effectiveness against both personnel and light armored vehicles. The screens in front of the WSO flickered as new coordinates were fed into the targeting system.

"25mm is live. We're on it," the WSO reported back, hands moving over the controls with a well-rehearsed precision.

The pilot maneuvered Spooky-1 into position, ensuring that the gunship was at the optimal angle and distance for the 25mm cannon to be most effective. "On target," he confirmed, waiting for the final go-ahead.

"Eagle Actual to Spooky-1, you have the green light," the controller's voice was clear and direct.

"Firing," the WSO announced, and the sky erupted with the sound of the cannon. The rapid fire of the 25mm shells created a trail of flashes towards the ground as they chewed through the shield wall with relentless force.

The effect was immediate. The shield disintegrated under the onslaught, leaving the tangoes exposed.

"Switch to 40 mike-mike," the pilot instructed, referring to the 40mm Bofors cannon as the next step in their engagement process.

The WSO didn't waste any time, quickly changing the weapons system and confirming the new targeting parameters. "40mm ready," he said, his tone all business now.

As Spooky-1 held its position, the pilot kept a steady hand on the controls, maintaining the gunship's orbit to provide a stable firing platform. "Cleared to engage," he confirmed, after receiving a final nod from the WSO.

The WSO depressed the fire button, and the 40mm cannon began to bark, sending high-explosive rounds downrange with precision. The gun's report was a deep, rhythmic pounding, distinct from the rattle of the 25mm cannon.

On the ground, the 40mm rounds exploded on impact, the blasts adding to the destruction of the shield wall remnants and ensuring the incapacitation of the targets. The infrared feed showed no movement in the aftermath—just heat signatures that began to cool rapidly.

"Spooky-1. Confirm effects on target," came the call from Richard, seeking confirmation of the mission's success.

The WSO, after a quick review of the latest imagery, confirmed the results. "Eagle Actual, Spooky-1. There's still movement."

"Roger that, Spooky-1. This is our chance, eliminate them with your 105 mike-mike," Richard commanded.

The WSO acknowledged the command, shifting the systems back to the 105mm howitzer. This heavy weapon, though slower to fire, packed a devastating punch capable of delivering a final blow to the enemy.

"Recalibrating azimuth and elevation for 105mm," the WSO communicated as he keyed in the new fire solution. "Ready to fire."

"Spooky-1, you are cleared hot," Richard's voice authorized.

"Engaging with 105mm," the WSO replied, and once more the howitzer came to life, its booming voice announcing the delivery of the mission's final rounds.

The high-explosive shells from the 105mm cannon were much more powerful than the previous munitions. As they descended, the anticipation in the aircraft was palpable; this needed to be the concluding action.

When the shells hit, their detonation was unmistakable, even from the air. The shockwaves were visible through the smoky haze.

The gunship circled once more, the infrared sensors now showing a transformed landscape below.

"Stand by for BDA," the WSO informed the ground forces. He scrutinized the imagery, looking for any signs of the tangoes.

The infrared now showed a clear picture. The heat signatures of the enemy combatants had vanished, replaced by the cooler tones of inanimate debris. n)/o-.V((e--l)(b./I-/n

"Eagle Actual, Spooky-1. Tangoes are down," the WSO confirmed, a note of finality in his voice.

"Confirmed, Spooky-1. Good work. Return to pattern and stand by for potential further taskings," Richard's response was professional, with a slight edge of satisfaction.

As the pilot turned the aircraft away from the engagement area, the crew began the standard post-engagement procedure.

Meanwhile, in the command center.

"What should we do about the corpses?" Sara asked.

"We bring them in, of course to our lab for study. The more we study about those unknowns that can use magical abilities, the more mysteries we can unlock from the progenitor of the apocalypse," Richard said.