Chapter 250 Valkyries!
In Norse mythology, Valkyries are formidable female figures who choose those who may die in battle and those who may live. Drawing inspiration from this myth, the term "Valkyries" had been adopted as a call sign for a squadron of F-35 Lightning II fighters.
At the airbase, the atmosphere was charged with urgency. Twenty F-35s were being rapidly prepped for takeoff. The ground crews worked with practiced speed, loading armaments, and running final checks.
The pilots, clad in their flight suits, received the call from the command center. "Valkyries, this is Command. Scramble immediately. Your target is the Abyssal Leviathan, currently engaged off the coast. This creature has already taken down the Poseidon. Your mission: engage and neutralize. Use maximum firepower."
The Valkyries acknowledged the call.
Climbing into their cockpits, the pilots ran through their pre-flight sequences. The powerful engines of the F-35s roared to life, the sound thunderous against the backdrop of the airfield. One by one, the jets taxied onto the runway.
As the first of the Valkyries lifted off the runway, its jet wash rippling the air behind it, the rest followed in quick succession. They ascended rapidly, forming a tactical formation as they headed towards the battle zone.
"All Valkyries are in the air, Eagle," Mark said, looking at Richard.
"Good," Richard said. "Sara, can you give me the exact coordinates of where Poseidon has crashed?"
"I'm pulling it up right now," Sara said
"I'm pulling it up right now," Sara responded, her fingers flying over the keyboard. Her eyes were focused on the monitor as she sifted through the drone's data and the last known coordinates of the Poseidon. The screen displayed a map of the Babuyan Islands, a remote archipelago in the Philippines.
After a moment of intense concentration, Sara pinpointed the location. "Got it, Eagle. The crash site coordinates are approximately 19.1517° N, 121.9417° E, near the northern coast of the Babuyan Islands."
Richard nodded, absorbing the information. "Relay those coordinates to LPD-3. Send a helicopter and see if they are survivors."
"Relay those coordinates to LPD-3. Send a helicopter and see if there are survivors," Richard instructed.
Sara quickly communicated the instructions. "LPD-3, this is Blackwatch. Poseidon's crash site coordinates are 19.1517° N, 121.9417° E. Dispatch a helicopter for search and rescue operations. Look for any survivors."
"Copy that, Command," responded the officer on LPD-3. "Helicopter is being prepped for the SAR mission, ETA, to the crash site in three?minutes."
The command center's focus then shifted back to the Valkyries' mission. On the main screen, the squadron of F-35s could be seen approaching the engagement zone.
In the command center, all eyes were glued to the screens as the Valkyries closed in on the Leviathan's last known position.
Richard, standing stoically, monitored the progress of the Valkyries. "Keep me updated on their engagement," he ordered.
Sara nodded, her hands poised over the keyboard, ready to relay any new information. "Valkyries, you are approaching the engagement zone. Be prepared for any scenario."
The pilots of the F-35s, trained for high-stress combat situations, responded with professionalism. "Roger that, Blackwatch. We are ready to engage."
As the Valkyries entered the engagement zone, their radar systems began to pick up the massive signature of the Leviathan. It was an ominous sight, even from a distance - a colossal entity that seemed to defy the laws of nature with its sheer size and presence.
"Target in sight," announced the lead pilot of the Valkyries. "Preparing to engage."
"Valkyries, you are clear to engage. Use all available firepower," came the order from the command center.
As the squadron of F-35 Lightning IIs, designated as "Valkyries," swooped down towards the towering Abyssal Leviathan, their state-of-the-art targeting systems locked onto the creature.
The F-35s, versatile fifth-generation fighters, were equipped with an array of advanced weaponry specifically designed for precision strikes. The lead pilot, coordinating the attack, signaled the deployment of the AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSMs). These stealthy cruise missiles, known for their long range and high accuracy, were ideal for engaging the Leviathan from a safe distance. The pilots launched the JASSMs in a synchronized manner, ensuring a barrage of missiles headed towards the target.
Simultaneously, other pilots in the formation prepared their internally mounted GAU-22/A 25mm Gatling guns. These guns, capable of firing 3,300 rounds per minute, were loaded with high-explosive incendiary (HEI) ammunition designed to inflict maximum damage upon impact. As the F-35s closed in on the Leviathan, the pilots unleashed a hail of bullets, aiming for the creature's visible weak spots, especially the areas around the damaged tentacles.
In addition to the Gatling guns, several pilots opted to use AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs). Though primarily an air-to-air missile, the AMRAAM's versatility and explosive power made it a formidable option against large targets like the Leviathan. The F-35 pilots expertly launched these missiles, each seeking its target with active radar homing.
Back at the command center, Richard and his team watched the live feed from the F-35s' advanced electro-optical targeting systems. The screens displayed the precise trajectory of each missile and the rapid-fire bursts from the Gatling guns, all converging on the massive form of the Leviathan.
The first wave of JASSMs impacted the Leviathan, detonating upon contact and engulfing parts of its body in explosions. The successive blasts from the AMRAAMs followed, creating additional explosions across the creature's vast form. Amidst this barrage, the relentless gunfire from the Gatling guns peppered the Leviathan, tearing into its flesh.
The Abyssal Leviathan could only wriggle its tentacles around, blocking as many incoming attacks as it could, but the sheer volume of firepower proved overwhelming.
"Direct hits across multiple sections!" reported one of the Valkyrie pilots, their voice crackling over the communication link. "It's still moving, but we're seeing significant damage."
Richard watched intently, his eyes scanning the screens for any signs of weakness in the Leviathan. "Keep hitting it. We need to take it down before it can recover or retaliate."
As the Valkyries circled for another pass, the Leviathan, in a display of defiant rage, lashed out with its remaining tentacles. The pilots, however, their jets evade the creature's desperate attempts to strike them.
In a surprising turn of events, the Abyssal Leviathan, seemingly on the brink of defeat, exhibited a new and terrifying ability. It began sucking up enormous volumes of seawater, its massive form heaving with the effort. Within moments, it expelled the water in a powerful, concentrated jet, aiming directly at the Valkyries.
The pilots of the F-35s reacted with lightning speed. They maneuvered their jets, evading the high-pressure water jets that sliced through the air where they had been moments before. The water blasts, while missing their intended targets, sent cascades of water spraying into the air.
"Valkyries, watch out for its water jets!" warned the lead pilot, as he narrowly dodged another powerful stream.
The Valkyries regrouped quickly, undeterred by the Leviathan's new defense mechanism. They knew that the creature was weakening and that they needed to maintain their offensive momentum.
"Valkyries maintain attack formation. It's weakening," commanded the TACCO through the communication link.
With renewed determination, the squadron launched another coordinated strike. The remaining JASSMs and AMRAAMs were deployed, zeroing in on the Leviathan's weakened spots. Simultaneously, the pilots unleashed another barrage from their Gatling guns, targeting the creature's head and remaining tentacles.
The sky above the ocean lit up with the flashes of explosions and gunfire. The Leviathan writhed and thrashed in the water, its roars of pain and anger echoing through the stormy skies.
Finally, after enduring the relentless assault, the Leviathan's movements began to slow. Its tentacles stopped their frantic thrashing and gradually went limp. The monstrous body shuddered one last time before it lay still, floating motionless on the ocean's surface.
Richard confirmed it through his system.
[Congratulations! You have defeated Abyssal Leviathan.]
"Target is down! I repeat, the Abyssal Leviathan is down!" exclaimed one of the Valkyrie pilots,
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