While Alkon made his way to the launchers, questioning what had caused the equipment to fail, the Alliance fighter jets unleashed their deadly load above the city. Many of the bombs met their intended targets, but others were vaporised by the seven Daijuarn shields now set in place in the city. Waikor then retaliated with their own assault, sending fifteen missiles back into the Alliance lines. The explosions wreaked havoc among them, causing soldiers to flee their posts and abandon their equipment. Remaining as calm as possible, Alkon studied everything around him as one of the launcher operators explained that their missiles had somehow been put off target, and that there must have been some sort of interfering shield on the wall protecting it. Alkon’s battled-tested instincts allowed him to issue his next commands. He ordered the troops heading toward the wall to set charges and bring it down themselves, for the remaining units to spread out even further, and for five of the closest launchers to all aim at one place on the wall from where he had seen some missiles launched. They would then fire continuously until a second wave of missiles was sent from Waikor.
He called for another air strike in the meantime and waited patiently. It was not long before the expected second wave of Waikorian missiles was sent, and he gave the order to launch their own attack. Even though he could do nothing to save the men being targeted by Waikor in the lines, the missiles he sent this time hit successfully and blew a deep hole into the Waikorian wall, revealing a little of what was beyond it. He had been right. He had theorised Waikor was using methods of scrambling the signals of the Alliance missiles, but needed to shut down the systems while they launched their own attacks. He had guessed this would be due to Waikor being unaware of the frequency used by the Alliance, and therefore had elected to interfere with all, including their own. With that, he had also managed to target the one place he knew would be vulnerable. A turret inside the wall. This not only caused damage to the wall, getting past its armour and shield, but also exploded the remaining missiles within, creating a much wider opening than would have been possible with the missiles he was sending at it.
‘Continue returning fire as they do,’ said Alkon, receiving a nod from the operator next to him and affirmative replies over the communicator.
Alkon switched frequency then so that he could call for the troops heading toward the wall to retreat. Now that he knew he could get destroy the wall with the missiles, they would not need to risk their lives, but it was already too late. His ears were met with screams and gunfire.
‘This is General Zaccarah, what’s happening down there?’ he asked.
The reply came from a soldier standing on the outside of the field. ‘There are gun turrets hidden in the field, General, we’re pulling back as fast as we can!’
Alkon cursed himself for not taking underground defence systems into account again, and then once the wheat field was clear, he ordered for it to be scanned from above. The data was soon sent back to the launchers, and he ordered for the major power lines of the turrets to be bombed.
The Alliance launchers sent another fifty missiles into the city of Waikor, all aimed at the Waikorian launchers that were now attempting to shoot down the fighter jets. The Daijuar seemed to be protecting only the areas heavily populated by civilians, as the Waikorian launchers had no defence against the deadly rain.
Finally able to strike their targets hard, the Alliance soldiers cheered in victory, but their shouts soon quieted as almost one hundred missiles were launched from Waikor’s inner ring. The Alliance soldiers stared in disbelief as the sky was lit up as if there were a meteor shower that had passed straight through Earth’s atmosphere and headed straight toward them. Thousands of Alliance soldiers perished in the explosions as the sky became black with smoke and ash, several more waves of missiles being sent at them.
Despite gaining a little success, Alkon realised the losses were not worth it and quickly ordered for his remaining forces to retreat.
It had seemed to take no more than a minute for the battle to swing completely in Waikor’s favour, as their fighter jets met with the Alliance fighters and brought them down with expert efficiency. The wheat fields below became ablaze, causing all soldiers near to run for their lives, while the many disabled tanks and vehicles were left behind as the order to retreat was put into full effect.
The launchers that had remained safe were moved even further back, far from enemy fire along with any other vehicles still capable of functioning. Waikor continued its attack from beyond the wall on the fleeing Alliance soldiers, but they were soon out of range, and once all had left, the fires were extinguished, and the Waikorian people wasted no time in beginning repairs to their beloved city.