A couple of clicks west from the delta site was the first defensive fortification of the Forward Operating Base. Consisting of dozens of pits, barbed wires, sandbags, and spikes, its fortifications seemed lacking.
However, its armaments weren't to be underestimated.
In the first defensive fortification were dozens of Humvees, several Bradleys, and an armored platoon worth of Abraham tanks. There were also 50. caliber machine gun bunkers scattered throughout the line, bolstering its capabilities.
The commander of the first defensive line was Lieutenant Colonel Joven, the battalion leader of the 1st Battalion of the United Army.
He stood amidst the ranks of the first defensive line as the second defensive line was merely a section of the defensive fortifications where the artillery pieces resided.
At the moment, he dwelled within the forward command tent of the first defensive line.
With him were the four captains of the 1st Infantry Company, 2nd Mechanized Company, 3rd Armored Company, and 4th Artillery Battery.
In front of the five of them was the small yet detailed topographic map of the area. The defensive line was already complete, they were merely waiting for mobilization.
"The aerial cavalry have reported that they are 10 clicks away from the delta site. The magibeasts are advancing fast, they want us to prepare for mobilization."
Lieutenant Colonel Joven said to his officers, to which they responded with a nod.
"As per our debriefing, the artillery pieces will start firing first. Captain Donnern, is the 4th company ready?" Joven inquired and the captain nodded before responding.
"The 4th Artillery Battery is ready, Lieutenant Colonel. The artillery pieces are armed and ready. They only need your command before they fire."
Hearing the response of Captain Donnern, Lieutenant Colonel Joven nodded in satisfaction and uttered to the 4th company captain.
"Good, have them double the first firing salvos. According to the aerial cavalry, we will be dealing with over a thousand magibeasts. One of those already almost reached the size of our cars, so a thousand will be devastating."
Lieutenant Colonel Joven ordered Donnern to double the first firing salvos of the artillery. This was to make sure that the numbers of the incoming magibeasts would be flattened to the ground.
"Affirmative, Sir. I will be doubling the first salvos." Donnern saluted and the Lieutenant Colonel's attention turned towards the remaining captains.
"The 2nd Mechanized Company and 3rd Armored Company will be routing the herd of magibeasts while they dispersed into the plains. On the other hand, the 1st Infantry Company will be dealing with the leftovers."
"I'm sure we already debriefed them 30 minutes ago, and I don't have any required changes. So, maintain your directives and follow orders."
The Lieutenant Colonel asserted to the captains who responded to his words with a salute. Joven once again nodded in satisfaction and ordered them to leave the forward command tent.
"Return to your positions."
Hearing his orders, the captains left the forward command tent one after another bringing about silence to the formerly busy tent.
"The next ten minutes will be devastating and difficult. But the United Army should be able to do it, especially if we have the trump card of the Fleet Admiral on our side." Joven muttered under his breath.
A smile soon formed on his face as he remembered some footage of the first naval battle against the sea monsters on the high seas. It was watched during the debriefing, and most newly acquired personnel swiftly became a fan of the legendary dragon.
After all, a massive eastern dragon was a sight to see. Its head was already 25 meters in height or almost 8 stories. Such a sizable creature that was capable of flight couldn't be underestimated.
Several minutes then passed and the transmission from the aerial cavalry arrived at the forward command tent.
*This is Lieutenant Colonel Aquila, ETA of the herd is 30 seconds.* With the communication transmission from Lieutenant Colonel Aquila, Joven swiftly relayed the report to the captains.
"This is forward command, ETA of the magibeast herd into the delta site is 30 seconds. Prepare yourselves."
After relaying the report to the captains, Lieutenant Colonel Joven stepped out of the forward command tent.
He was met with the radiant light of the sun, making him squint his eyelids from its rays. He observed his surroundings as the breeze of wind ruffled his hair.
"I can already smell democracy." He quietly mumbled and took off.
Meanwhile… In the second defensive line, the sector where the artillery pieces resided, Captain Donner had recently received the report of the Lieutenant Colonel.
He turned his head towards his artillery personnel and ordered them to prepare.
"You have 20 seconds before the bombardment of the delta site." With his words, the artillery personnel got themselves into position and waited for the long-awaited zero.
And it didn't take long.
Captain Donnern turned his gaze and saw the timer reach zero. Without hesitation, he signaled his artillery personnel to fire.
Seeing the signal of the captain, the artillery personnel immediately communicated through the transmission for the firing commission.
Behind Captain Donnern were a number of Paladins lined up together, there were also some Howitzers in front of them with artillery crews operating them.
It didn't take a second before one of the Paladins fired its first shot.
*BAM!*
And many more followed.
*BAM!* *BAM!* *BAM!* *BAM!* *BAM!*
*BAM!* *BAM!* *BAM!* *BAM!* *BAM!*
The Paladins and Howitzers fired one after another. Their shells pierced through the air and traveled several kilometers to its designated target.
The deafening blasts escaping the confines of the barrels echoed throughout the plains. But Captain Donnern seemed unaffected by the ear-puncturing sounds.
He continued to observe the horizon where the delta site dwelled with scrutiny.
In the delta site a couple of clicks from the first defensive line, thousands of magibeasts stampeded through the grasslands with madness. The guiding Little Birds and Apaches had already hovered far before the first artillery fired and maintained their distance since then.
Other than the hooves of the magibeasts flattening the ground, nothing could be heard in the grassland. There was only calm, but it changed when the first shell impacted the delta site.
*BOOM!*
The first shell caused many bits of flesh to fly off to the heavens before returning back to the earth. Sadly for the herd of magibeasts, though. It was far from the end.
*BOOM!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!*
One after another, the artillery shells exploded throughout the delta site, devastating it to damnation. Explosions resounded in large numbers as the earth began to tremble.
Craters shattered the ground and could be seen everywhere along with the smoke and dust it brought up to the air. Luckily for the magibeasts, the shelling calmed down.
The distraught magibeasts regained their senses and noticed the destruction that surrounded them. Things seemed to be unfortunate to them on this very day.
However, it was far from over as it was merely the calm before the storm.
Back to the second defensive line, Captain Donnern stopped staring at the horizon and turned his gaze back to his artillery personnel. With a cold gaze, he soon ordered them with a calm voice.
"Repeat."