Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Story - Under the Trees

Continued from "A Cold Omen"

     Alerts were erupting from the radio from the other regiments, while HQ was barking orders at the various commanders, until it all stopped in an instant. The Imperial Forces hit much harder than expected, communications across the entire mountain range were lost. Captain Griffin and his regiment were positioned along one of the main passes, and had set up a defensive position to combat the advancement of the Tyrus Empire's forces. 

Series Introduction: [ The Corinosian Introduction ]

Captain Griffin: “Get our communications up pronto!”

1st Marine Koller: “Right away sir!”

     The Captain headed to the gun emplacement on the right flank. His men could tell he was deep in thought, as he usually was when things were silent. Communications were wiped, but there had been no combat as of yet. Not a single shot fired. 

Captain Griffin: “It’s been quiet for too long. What type of invasion starts loud and dies down within minutes?”

2nd Marine Lancer: “I’m not sure, sir. The Imperials are known to be tricky.”

     Captain Griffin: “They have an insatiable thirst for victory, if it wasn't enough to win their last three wars, they're starting yet another. I want you to aim for the forest on the other side of this field. On my mark, you will fire 4 shots at anything that looks even a bit out of place. I suspect they are waiting for orders and are hidden for now.”

2nd Marine Lancer: “Of course, sir.”

     The Captain spread the order among the entire line. He thought that perhaps they were hiding among the foliage. The forests surrounding the northern citadel were dense and lush. Nearly every tree was overgrown by various vines and flowers, while the forest floor was covered in bushes and ferns. 
     The Captain gives the order to fire, each soldier fired as instructed. They waited for 5 long minutes, and nothing had happened. Suddenly, the ground beneath them began to shake. A few short moments later an enormous drill came out from underneath the left flank. An armored vehicle that looked like an APC fitted for mining came out from the hole formed by the drill. Several soldiers there flung back.

Captain Griffin: “Someone get some anti-armor rockets over here! Marines, prepare yourselves, find cover, and form up at the middle flank!”

      The soldiers created a new front line of the left side of the middle flank, and began to set up. The APC opened fired upon Griffin’s regiment, and quickly the Listarians learned of the power of the Tyrus Empire. Soldiers in suits of powered armor began pouring out of the APC. A few of them dropped smoke grenades, giving them unneeded cover, while the APC switched from a simple chain gun to a rail gun. Almost instantly, a hole was formed in the Listarian front. Chaos ensued, and Griffin frantically tried to regain control of the situation. 

Captain Griffin: “Fire your weapons, they are in that smoke somewhere, Fire! Where are our concussion grenades?”

1st Marine Koller: “Sir, communications are back up!”

Captain Griffin: “Great job, what’s it like elsewhere?”

1st Marine Koller: “Sir, it seems as if everyone is in the same predicament. Drill-equipped PA filled with soldiers have just appeared all over the battlefield. The 3rd regiment reports that rockets and grenades are ineffective against the APC’s armor.”

Captain Griffin: “Notify the other regiments that I’ll attempt to attack the hull of the APC. Instead of blowing it up, we'll attempt to get inside of it. Tell them that I suggest that they wait for my plan’s results before wasting anymore resources.”

1st Marine Koller: “Yes sir, of course sir.”

2nd Marine Kipler: “Sir, I brought the concussion grenades!”

Captain Griffin: “Good, distribute them to every lieutenant and engineer on the front.”

2nd Marine Kipler: “Right away, sir.”

Lieutenant David: “Here’s the rocket launcher you requested.”

     Captain Griffin fired the rocket launcher, but not to destroy the APC. The blast cleared the smoke and the enemy was revealed. The rail gun fired again and the shot erupted on the right, throwing half a dozen marines back several yards. Enemy soldiers started advancing forward, and the Listarian fusion rifles seemed to have no effect on them. 

Lieutenant David: “That was creative. What’s the plan to finish these guys off?”

Captain Griffin: “I need a strike team to get inside of the hull of that APC. We cannot penetrate its armor with conventional means. I want you to gather your squad, and sneak around the left flank. Strike when we throw our concussion grenades. We will offer as much cover fire as possible, and concentrate all fire to help you. Taking out that APC is our top priority. Bring an engineer, and if you can't figure out the controls, drop a grenade in, and hope for the best.”

Lieutenant David: “Sounds like a plan, I'll get into position as quickly as possible.”

      The Imperial forces found or created cover, and now neither side could gain any ground. The enemy discovered that their suits can only take so much, and after a while, the fusion rifles will eventually wear them down. The Listarians fired relentlessly. 

Captain Griffin: “Kipler, I'm glad you're back. I need you to give out the order that I need our best marksmen to grab the high powered sniper rifles, and only fire when they have a clear shot to the head. Perhaps they will pack enough punch to at least disrupt the Imperials.”

2nd Marine Kipler: “Understood, sir.”

Captain Griffin: “Marines! Toss your concussion grenades now at any enemy power suit you see!”

      The concussion grenades were thrown, and a few were effective, stunning multitudes of enemy forces. Lieutenant David’s squad made haste towards the APC. While they worked on entering it, the APC fired another rail shot. It missed Captain Griffin, but the communication device that 1st Marine Koller had was damaged from the debris that followed the blast. The sniper rifles were working as planned, and things seemed to be going well for the most part, until the entire right flank exploded.

Captain Griffin: “Enemy air support has arrived; they ordered an airstrike right on top of us! Everyone, get back now, move to the left flank, and take any cover you find, now!”

{} Bombs were dropping left and right, dozens of marines died in an instant, while several others were wounded from shrapnel. On the bright side for the 2nd regiment, the APC was successfully destroyed, but now Lieutenant David’s squad is pinned down at the APC. {}

Captain Griffin: “Koller! Are communications back up yet?”

1st Marine Koller: “No sir. The device took some heavy damage; I've nearly finished fixing it though.”

Captain Griffin: “That’s good to hear. When it comes up, I need you to tell HQ that our anti-air is ineffective, and to contact other regiments notifying them of our success in destroying the APC. Kipler, come here!”

2nd Marine Kippler: “Yes sir?”

Captain Griffin: “I need you to notify all surviving marines that we will be making a fighting withdrawal until we find a better position. But before we do that, we must extract Lieutenant David and his squad. Send up a yellow flare so he knows we are coming in for him. He will know what to do then.”

2nd Marine Kippler: “Consider it done.”

      The flare was sent up, and Lieutenant David and his squad moved back the way they came, while the remaining Listarian marines gave cover fire. A few of David’s men were lost, and the Listarians took heavy casualties. The Imperials wouldn't let up, and began gaining ground. Communications came back on, and Koller sent out Griffin's message successfully. 

1st Marine Koller: “Sir, grave news.”

Captain Griffin: “What is it, Koller?”

1st Marine Koller: “HQ states that the enemy detected our rocket infantry tasked to help control the skies. Most of our flak cannons have been neutralized as well. Our anti-air plan failed, and we are defenseless against air strikes.”

Captain Griffin: “Great, just great. Let’s get moving, we will all die if we stay here. We should meet up with the 1st Regiment, they should be closer.”

      What was left of the 2nd regiment retreated, having taken a heavy loss. They lost an essential chokepoint, and were completely demoralized. The Listarians could not have been prepared for this. Their entire strategy was contradicted, while the enemy employed tactics they had never expected nor seen before. The 3rd and 1st regiments had a better time with the APCs, but they had taken heavy losses as well. Their terrain gave them an advantage against the APCs and the power suits, and their commanders didn't hesitate to use it. General Garreth was happy to hear that the 4th and 6th battalions are nearby, and that a southern outpost will serve as a refueling depot for aircraft, giving the Listarians air support. This battle is not over yet. 

To be continued...

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