-=+ +=- [COMPLETED] The Second Universe -=+ +=-

Part 15: WE HAVE A CONFIRMED-

The fireteam immediately kicked up into the air, activating their jetpacks and soaring down the road. They strafed small CROS defensive positions with their jetpack-mounted cannons, also peppering the sides of buildings with missiles. They also set their ICTTD [infantry combat tactical thaumaturgic device] systems to work, marking and destroying targets on the way to their objective. Beams fell from the sky thanks to markers placed by their ICTTDs, aiding in the destruction of these attackers.

CROS munitions harmlessly bounced off of their power armor, those who fired the munitions being in turn devastated by NWU bombardment. UIGR units were also present, notably dispatching terrestrial and small aerial drones to support the fireteam. "Thanks for the drones." The MGYSGT transmitted back to UIGR forces, the response being a "You are welcome." A CROS supply convoy was then crossing the road when Equinox's fireteam arrived.

The convoy was composed of several armored vehicles- three in the front, two in the rear, and then filled with truck-like vehicles in the middle. The fireteam approached from the left side of the convoy as it was traveling up an intersection, activating their 'Punisher' grenade launchers. They would then open fire, knocking out three trucks in the middle as they passed by. Pings occurred on the NWU's network as the vehicles in the convoy immediately started opening fire.

Thanks to the lower quality and relatively primitive nature in comparison to the NWU's prototype power armor, they were able to score hits yes, but not deal any meaningful damage. 20mm autocannons and 130mm cannons fired, but ended up blowing more buildings to smithereens than actually killing Marines. The Marines themselves were firing from windows, and frequently changing position as the convoy progressed.

Equinox fired a burst at the road in front of the convoy, blasting off the front vehicle's hover engines. This forced it to swerve as the driver attempted to bring the vehicle to a stop, exposing the vehicle's more vulnerable side armor. An armor piercing round ran through it, detonating the thaumaturgic munitions it stored inside. The fireteam's squad automatic riflemen [machine gunners] were focusing on the trucks as opposed to the armored vehicles.

Explosions ripped up the unfortunate trucks, their engines being targeted by the machine gunners. Rockets and large shells would also soar out from windows as launcher/recoilless rifle equipped Marines flew from building to building, bombarding the entirety of the convoy. Enemy resistance quickly dropped, and just a few minutes later, the last of the convoy was mopped up and Equinox's fireteam was proceeding towards the park.

A large expanse of seemingly highly evolved trees in a flooded lowland came into the view, smoke rising from a particular spot in the swamp. The fireteam flew lower, meaning just above the canopy, hopefully preventing them from taking CROS aircraft or short-range air defense fire. It seemed a battle in the air just above was intensifying too, missiles belonging to the UIGR and OFR flying alongside those of the NWU.

Plenty of missiles on both sides hit their targets, though the CROS clearly suffered a much higher casualty rate as evidenced by their lack of return fire and the sounds of aircraft crashing around the city-world. The Marines turned to their right then, landing in a small clearing next to the location of the rising smoke. The MBT with the callsign Landship 6-5 was there, its crew and automated systems clearly fighting to hold the enemy off. The tank's sponson guns were clearly hard at work fighting off drone assaults.

Smaller CROS air drones were attacking in large swarms as opposed to the CROS's usual infantry swarms. Smaller caliber weapons, such as rotary barrel machine guns chambered in 6x45mm cartridges were common among these drones. As the fireteam arrived, a large complement of drones broke off from a swarm and moved to attack them. The aforementioned 6mm miniguns mounted on them started spewing rounds in their direction, trees getting ripped up in the process.