Have You Read the Manual by Dale Sale (miss read books txt) 📕

Here’s another one the manual says you can’t do.

Gus was coming straight out of the sun at full throttle. The gunship fired blindly as tracers whizzed past on both sides. He jinked the dropship at the last second and deployed the braking parachute just as the enemy reached him. The fabric engulfed the prop on one wing. Gus smiled slightly as he watched the enemy slam into the ridge top.

“Delta Tango, this is the Annie D, sorry for the delay. I had to deal with some pests up here, but I’m headed your way now. That LZ is too hot for landing and I am out of bullets, but I think I can get you a ride.”

The voice taunted Gus again, “Very nice flying my friend, but I am afraid your efforts are in vain. Do not worry, I will not take it out on your friends,”

***

Back on the ground, Spots yelled, “Gunner, we got movement!”

The enemy was attempting to flank them as a light machine gun opened up on them. The Major had run up to the ditch to help spot.

“Patterson, covering fire, Major paint that bastard.” Stanski yelled. “Zeta, hedgehog that gun when it gets lit.”

Zeta commed, “Rodger that.”

Three deep whomps issued from the APCs back as Zeta fired off the mortars.

The Marines cheered as all three rounds landed squarely on the LMG position.

Webster shouted, “Painting flankers now.”

Zeta answered, “I got em,” and the turret chain gun let out a continuous explosive purr.

Several of the enemy went down as the rest dove for cover. The hedgehog whomped again several times, trying to loft the mortars over boulders into the enemy position.

Patterson whacked Major Webster on the shoulder, “Aces!”

Webster grinned back, “A little more exciting than shaking hands and drinking tea, hey? You got this? I need to check on the kid.” She turned the scope over and crouch ran back to the command car.

Weber jerked open the door, “Come on kid, our ride is almost here. Get your bucket on!”

Gunner Stanski was back on the comm, “Gus, at this point we will take a donkey cart and three bicycles. Whatever you are going to do, make it fast, I can see plume of dust on road headed our way.”

Gus radioed, “OK, prepping the drop.”

Gus said to the ship, “Annie, prepare for cargo bay skid drop,”

Annie replied, “Bosun, I must once again warn you; that maneuver is not authorized on this airframe.”

“Just do it and I promise you a hand wash.”

The ship almost sighed, “Very well, cargo bay door and landing gear lowering. Standing by for skid drop. Oh, I expect an interior detailing also,” Gus rolled his eyes.

He lined the ship up with the road and came in low at just above stall. Just as he cleared the bombed-out APCs he shouted, “Drop!” and flared the ship.

The wide-eyed Marines in the ditch hit the ground. Hot engine blast washed over and they saw a chute jerk the skid out of the cargo bay. It bounced to a stop just beyond the wrecked APC. Engines roaring and now minus her cargo, the Annie D shot into the sky. The leathernecks sprang from the ditch to prep the buggy, Zeta laid it on with the turret gun to keep the enemy’s head down. Gunner Stanski, Hanlon, the Major and her daughter sprinted to the buggy.

The buggy’s engine fired up just as the turret gun ran dry. “I’m coming,” Zeta yelled as she squirmed from under APC-1.

Major Webster stopped Nan from climbing into the driver’s seat, “Sorry, I’m driving this time Gunner, last time you ran us in the ditch. Besides who is gonna use that,” the Major jerked a thumb at the heavy machine gun turret ring on the roof.

The Gunner smiled broadly and mounted the buggy, “Aye, Aye Major.” Yeah, I’m liking her more every minute.

They loaded fast and sped away from the site. Two Marines lead the way on the cycles. The dust clouds behind them were close.

Nan pivoted the gun rearward. “Keep going Major, I’ll slow em down a little.” The heavy machine gun began to rattle as Nan let out a war cry, “You want some of this? Come on asshole!”

Hanlon grabbed the radio, “Delta Tango, calling Annie D, thanks for the ride Gus, but our friends aren’t stopping. Come on Bosun, you must have one last trick up your sleeve?”

“G-1 this is Annie D can you provide support?” Gus called the fallen Angel.

G-1 replied, “Sorry Boss, my magazine is empty, and engines are offline. Why don’t you ask Angel G-4?”

Gus replied, “G-4? G-4 failed to initiate at launch.”

Annie answered, “Guardian Angel G-4 is currently performing overwatch and awaiting instruction. Recently revised protocol requires one Guardian Angel unit to remain in Avenging Angel overwatch during any engagement. You would know this Sir if you bothered to read the manual.”

Gus grinned, “Oh, you sweet, sweet old girl, you ARE gonna get that hand wash! What exactly is ‘Avenging Angel’?”

“Avenging Angel is a last resort strike capability. It consists of a miniaturized high yield thermobaric weapon; approximately 1 kiloton equivalent, built into the body of the Guardian. It should be highly effective against the enemy force pursuing Delta Tango 01,” Annie D replied.

“Delta Tango 01, this is Annie D, cover your ears boys and girls, ole Gusty Joe is calling the thunder down. Annie D initiate Avenging Angel.”

Hanlon shouted and pulled her pant leg. “Gunner, you’d better get your head down, something big is about to happen.”

The shipped asked, “Guardian Angel G-4, do you copy?”

“Affirmative, G-4 confirms Avenging Angel. See you in Valhalla brothers.” Gus watched the Angel scream by as its nose cannon opened up on the enemy column to allow the assault buggy time to clear the blast radius.

G-1 piped