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Today, I am providing a glimpse into a typical day in the AB, with a recap of my last 24 hours which took me from Liaoning to Limpopo and into the heat of battle numerous times. I hope you enjoy and may look to the Airborne for your own adventures.

Lieutenant Scheisskopf
Lieutenant, 2nd Platoon of the 101st Airborne Division
eUS Airborne Public Affairs Officer

Twilight jumping, an integral part of Airborne
training and my combat story on Day 903

Time to Deploy
There are some days where you just know that something big is going to happen. I had been quietly reading about the eUS’ keen interest to retake Liaoning in the local newspaper on Day 902, when PVT Dravin walked into my office and advised me that GEN Channing, Commanding Officer of the Airborne Corps, had requested all his officers for an urgent meeting. Once there, the General informed me and my fellow officers that “the big one is here. We are to support eChina’s attack on Liaoning and secure an airfield before the rest of the ground forces make their way into the region. Round up your platoons immediately; we strike at midnight.” I realized right then that we would be dropping into a heavily fortified airstrip on the outskirts of Shenyang and that the fighting would be fierce, but that we could cut off air supplies for the eSerbians while also giving us the chance to airlift supplies in for the fight.

I returned to my platoon and told them of our new orders. “Soldiers,” I began, “the fight we have been waiting for is about to begin. I hope your 10/4 fighting kits are in full order. Get your things together and move out!” I watched as my newest soldier, PVT SecretAvenue’s face lit up; she just transferred from another military branch days earlier and was going to see her first major action as an Airborne paratrooper. And as the rest of the 101st Airborne gathered towards our transport planes, I realized why I do this. Seeing the faces of LT deerslayer77 and LT Jarhoul, along with those of SPC Leroy Combs, SPC One Eye and many comprising the Airborne's finest, reminded me that these were my brothers with whom I have fought side-by-side for months, and were together among the most feared troopers in the New World. I saw immediately, planes full of soldiers who formed an incredible band of brothers, but were a plague for their enemies to behold. And it was then that we took off for Beijing, where we would receive further instruction.

The Drop
It didn’t take long for GEN Channing to confirm that the 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions would be assigned to securing Shenyang Airbase, while the 11th would be dropped over an outpost on the base’s outskirts. Our intelligence sources indicated that the eSerbs and some foreign allies were expecting a raid on the base, and that the drop would not be an easy one. Days like this remind me that the things in life most worth doing are seldom easy, and that a successful drop could greatly open the battle in our favor. With that, our C-130 Hercules aircraft were filled with elite paratroopers destined to answer our nation’s call.

“We’re nearing the drop zone,” shouted COL Dreamer_KF over the C-130’s roaring engines, while LTC Maruishima and CPT tazman224 worked frantically to make sure all the troopers’ parachutes would not fail and that everyone had plenty of ammunition. I heard the 82nd Division’s Colonel, simplex, snarl at some anxious Private who just wanted to get the jump over with, and shared a laugh with LTs James Strife and Ines Schumacher, who I have served with for months and would be leading our platoons together to secure the base's southern runways. A new private getting ready to make their first jump asked me what it would feel like. I heard PVT Exalted, one of my trusted troopers, explain to the soldier what I told Exalted months earlier, that “for a few seconds, you feel sick beyond belief. You feel the cold air and the sharp wind stinging your face. You feel yourself plunging towards the earth. But then, you feel your chute deploy, you realize what your duties are, and then you come alive.”

Captured imagery from the airbase

With that, we got the green light. My platoon landed on the southeast runway and made haste towards our objectives. After securing the runway, I heard from LTC Maruishima that he received word from LTC ChubbZilla and COL Apnea that the 11th Airborne Division successfully overran the outlying base, and that the main force was headed from eChina towards the Liaoning capital. “When will our next jump be?,” inquired an excited PVT SecretAvenue, obviously reveling in her first jump and overjoyed by her decision to go AB. “It could be sooner than you think,” replied LTC Maruishima, who had just received word from LTG William T. Mountain that a detachment from the eUS Army Group East was coming to relieve us and we would be returning to base for another operation.

The Air Assault Badge, which qualified me for the
most perilous operation of my Airborne career late in Day 903

Plans Change on a Dime
I was woken up by LTC TheSpartan, which is either a bad or fantastic thing depending on how you look at it, since he is always leading the special operations forces. “Scheisskopf,” Spartan began, “the fight for Liaoning is getting tough, but we have a major push in mind if we can secure allied support for it.” These are the moments that an Airborne troop lives for, so I listened attentively. Sparty said that I and a handful of other AB veterans would be needed to take part in a highly dangerous attack on Liaoning’s government center; we would be flying in by helicopter, under radar, and without any expected ground support to come in behind us. He and GEN Channing assembled a group of Air Assault-qualified soldiers from across the Airborne for this final thrust on Phoenix’s positons in the city. I saw several friends from other divisions, including LT Andy Dufresne from the 11th Division; PVT elizabopolous of the 82nd; one of my own superiors, LTC Maruishima; the veteran Lieutenant Samuel Brouillette; GEN Channing himself; Sparty, and a handful of US Marines. I realized then that the mission we were handpicked for was not going to be like anything I had seen.

We left our forward operating base (FO😎 just before midnight once more, and made way for Shenyang by the shortest route possible. To be flying in a Huey helicopter so low that trees and buildings become an issue is a nerve-wracking ordeal, but we reached our drop point and while taking heavy fire, down went the ropes. Off in the distance, I heard the rest of EDEN’s forces crashing against Phoenix in hopes of reaching the capital. At the edge of my line of sight, I saw a few soldiers I did not recognize who were shot while lowering themselves by rope as Phoenix heavy infantry responded to our surprise attack. Once we were all lowered, we fought harder than I had ever seen; we were spitting lead without discrimination or care of gold at stake. Unfortunately, it was not enough, and we saw our Hueys return to get us out of Shenyang as Phoenix forces solidified their control over the city and repulsed EDEN’s invasion of the region.

Fortunately, I had been trained in these sorts of operations before

No Rest for the Weary
It was while in the Huey that GEN Channing learned from Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) NXNW, that our special operation was going to be extended indefinitely, as we were to lead the opening of a new fight against Phoenix in Limpopo, South Africa, over 7000 miles away. We took off immediately and arrived just ahead of the main invasion force, and were told that we would be targeting eArgentine border checkpoints surrounding the province. A third jump in 24 hours? It did not matter; all I remember was the excitement emanating from Sparty and elizabopolous as we got the news. "A good fight, it's almost as good as sex," Sparty exclaimed; I am not quite convinced myself, but it definitely ranks up there.

Another late night jump to soften up the enemy
for our allied forces. All in a day’s work for the Airborne

We were sad that the rest of our Airborne divisions were not going to take part in the initial raid, but quickly put that behind us and suited up once we reached eSouth Africa. Much of Phoenix was still occupied halfway across the world in eChina, so this jump was much less contested. In a matter of minutes, we secured the border points and caused a state of emergency to be declared in eArgentina as the enemy realized moments later what hit them. “I live for this, ladies and gentlemen,” GEN Channing confided to our group after securing our objective. “Now, we need to hang tight and make sure the rest catch up.” I will bet anything that once we are relieved on the outskirts of Limpopo, the eUS Airborne will be called on once again in the battle’s final minutes, to stage a late jump and help our eSA allies emerge triumphant. All told, I jumped three times in 24 hours, took part in 45 skirmishes, and inflicted over 15,000 damage on the enemy, and am looking forward to the next assignment. Another jump, another story, another chronicle detailing the life of an eUS Airborne paratrooper.

AIRBORNE ALL THE WAY!

Lt. Scheisskopf

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