TF Amethyst

TFA1 1.8 - Barbecue Party

After General O'Neil approved his proposal, Vex immediately worked on it. First, he changed the name of the settlements into Settlement 116. After that, various constructions were carried out.

It was started with construction of Solar Power Plant to support the lighting and clean water network, the replacement of outer walls into 5 meters high Hesco Barrier, to the establishment Outpost 116 which was equipped with radio stations, barracks, 16 units M1151 Ripper, and 6 units M1152 Cargo.

Except for a few forests which were useful for preventing landslides and maintaining the ecosystems, the entire hilly area around Settlement 116 was being converted into farmland and ranch. Once every two days Vex would check the progress for the construction and then took his time teaching the children in Settlement 116.

Initially, he volunteered to become a teacher because he wanted to stay as close as possible to a little girl who was very similar to his own daughter. However, slowly but surely he also became close enough to other children. He even memorized their names, characters, and various other details about them.

There was even a pair of siblings who always followed him wherever he went after he gave them chocolate candy. Vex was worried that the two siblings were orphans, but luckily his worries turned out to be false.

Vex was about to give his student math task when a loud 'Bang!' heard, followed by his students' beaming expressions. Vex immediately realized that the class was impossible to continue.

Vex put the math task back into his bag while asking, "Do you want to watch it again?"

All children in the class spontaneously nodded like chicks pecking at rice, and Vex could only smile helplessly.

"Okay, we'll watch it again then, but don't get too close." Every kid in the class nodded again while Vex continued. "Reem, Sien, Heem, and Nouk, help me look after your younger friends."

The four students that Vex called to nodded firmly. Not long after that, two dozen children cheerfully walked out of the classroom while holding hands in pair. Among them were Vex and some of his bodyguards.

---  

One of the assets that became the backbone of TF Amethyst, both offensively and defensively was M1151 Ripper. It was built from M1151, the Humvee weapon-carrying variant, which was combined with a remote-turret Reconfigurable Integrated-weapon Platform (RIwP).

The RIwP turret could receive almost any weapon system in US Army's inventory. For TF Amethyst, the configurations were Chain Gun M230 30 mm, Medium Machine Gun M240 7.62 mm, and a tube of 7 x 2.75" Talon laser-guided rocket.

As for the tracking system, M1151 Ripper was equipped with an electro-optic (EO), thermal imaging, and laser rangefinder with a range of 10 km. In summary, M1151 Ripper could detect targets at a distance of 20 km, started tracking them at a distance of 10 km, and locked them according to the effective range of the weapon system it used.

As for the crew, it was consisted of a vehicle commander who was also the gunner, an assistant gunner who was responsible to reload and maintaining the weapon system, and a driver who was also in charge of maintaining the vehicle.

In one corner of a newly built ranch an M1151 Ripper took a position. Inside it, Sergeant Lucas watched a flock of six approaching Black Eagles.

Sergeant Lucas had received a warning from radar station at Harley Quinn, when the flock of giant eagles was still 60 km away, and because his team was the first check-point the flock would pass, the command center tasked him to neutralize them.

As soon as Black Eagles entered the targeting laser’s effective range, Sergeant Lucas immediately marked the largest bird, and then chose Talon laser-guided rocket as a weapon.

At sea level, Talon had an effective range of 3.5 km, and was very accurate when it was being guided by a targeting laser. It didn't take long before the lock-on tone was heard. Without delay Sergeant Lucas pressed the fire button.

With a loud whirring, a Talon burst out of the launch tube, and then shot toward the largest Black Eagle. Before it had a time to react, the largest Black Eagle was hit fatally. While leaving a trail of thin smoke, the Black Eagle plunged free, hitting the ground very hard, and then floundered for a while before finally stopped moving.

Meanwhile, the rest of the flock scattered in all directions, and in an instant was out of sight.

--- 

With sparkling eyes, the kids from Settlement 116 watched a Black Eagle being lowered from the back of a 5-ton MTV Crane. One-third of the Black Eagle's body fell apart, but the remaining meat was still equivalent to 6-7 adult bulls.

"Blackie this time is bigger than Blackie last week,” said one of the kids cheerfully.

Another kid then added, “Yes, and tonight we will have barbecue again."

“Yeah, Blackie's BBQ. . .  super yummy. "

"Wolfie's barbecue is super yummy too."

When the barbecue party was mentioned, each child immediately swallowed their saliva very hard. Meanwhile, Vex could only listen to their chatter with a complicated expression. Never did he imagine that the Dangerous Wildlife they were so afraid of before, now had turned into their favorite menu. To this moment, Vex still could not completely eradicate the eerie impression he got from the Dangerous Wildlife.

Moreover, Vex had absolutely no idea that people from Settlements 116 would consume the meat from eliminated Black Eagle and Gray Wolf. They casually ignored the possibility that the Dangerous Wildlife they ate may be had consumed human flesh.

'Well, as long as they're happy,' Vex muttered in his heart while ignoring the moral considerations that was bothering him.

At the same time, the slaughterhouse workers deftly worked under the enthusiastic gazes of the children. The children were not in the least bit terrified when seeing the Black Eagle being skinned, dismantled, and washed.

---  

As soon as the sun set, the barbecue party in Settlement 116 began immediately. It was held in the village square. In total there were 12 campfires, each manned by two women.

In one corner, Vex sat with General O'Neil while enjoying cider and roasted potatoes flavored with barbecue sauce. Previously, two women delivered two large trays of grilled Black Eagle meat, but they chose to give it to Reem and the other children who always clung to Vex at every barbecue party.

General O'Neil enjoyed a piece of baked potato before saying, “I think we should start Operation Neptune soon.”

“Well, if you want to start it, let’s start it,” Vex casually replied.  

“I thought you will suggest me that it’s too early to start it."

Vex took a deep breath before saying, "I've read the last report from IDG regarding Tuscan Region's circumstance. I think that Region will completely die if we wait too long."

"Then, tomorrow we'll start to finalize Operation Neptune."

"Understood."

Vex then looked at two trays that were already empty, before turning his gaze to Reem and the other children who were looking at him expectantly.

The children in the settlements occasionally enjoyed roasted wild chicken. However, because the roasted chicken had never been seasoned with salt, let alone spices, the taste had never left a deep impression in their hearts.

That's why as soon as the kids in Settlement 116 taste the roasts seasoned with barbecue sauce made in Harley Quinn's kitchen, they got hooked by it right away.

Without delay Vex said, "Reem, bring your friend to take the second portion. Tell them General O’Neil is very hungry."

Reem and the other children's gaze immediately lit up, as the roast meat provided for Vex and General O’Neill was always the best cut. At the same time, General O'Neil smiled faintly before taking a sip of his cider.

*****