Halt's Apprentice
IMPORTANT ANOUNCEMENT: I THANK CAPTAIN LINDSEY VERY MUCH FOR PUTTING THIS UP ON HER PROFILE. I FOUND OUT HOW TO PUT IT ON MINE THOUGH. I OWE HER MY ETERNAL GRATITUDE. THANK YOU CAPTAIN LINDSEY!
Anyway, this song is based in WWII. The attack is the battle of Omaha Beach. This is a songfic. It was an inspiration from listening to the song "The Longest Day" From the amazing band Iron Maiden. Anyway, I hope you like it and enjoy :P
Disclaimer: I do not own the amazing song or the book characters in this story nor do I even think of claiming them.
***
In the gloom the gathering storm abates
In the ships gimlet eyes await
The call to arms to hammer at the gates
To blow them wide throw evil to its fate
Will, Horace, Gilan, Halt, and other soldiers were in the ships on there way to Omaha Beach. They had never been this terrified and, although Will did it with great reluctance, he started to express his gratitude to all his friends and, basically, his father.
"I couldn't ask for better friends. I don't know if we'll all make it out or not, but whether we do or not doesn't change the fact that, I love you all and if things go to hell in a hand basket, I'll see you all in heaven."
They were all truly touched by the words expressed by their friend. They knew he felt the same mind numbing fear they did.
"We all feel the same way, Will." Gilan responded.
All summers long the drill to build the machine
To turn men from flesh and blood to steel
From paper soldiers to bodies on the beach
From summer sands to Armageddon's reach
They said all the prayers they knew. Knowing the coast was drawing closer. The guns. The death. The tears. The noise. The angst. It was in their future and they knew it.
Overlord, your master not your god
The enemy coast dawning gray with scud
These wretched souls puking, shaking fear
To take a bullet for those who sent them here
They all clutched their M1 Garand's and Thompson's, waiting for the first few bullets to be fired.
The world's alight, the cliffs erupt in flame
No escape, remorseless shrapnel rains
Drowning men no chance for a warriors fate
A choking death, enter hell's gates!
"Get your heads down!" Halt yelled as the turrets from the coast started firing.
Ships all around them were getting blown up and shot at. They held their guns harder than ever before.
Sliding we go, only fear on our side
To the edge of the wire
And we rush with the tide
All the water is red
With the blood of the dead
Although I'm still alive, pray to God I survive
"Move! Move!" Yelled Gilan.
It was so loud Will couldn't hear himself think. Not to mention how the tide almost drowned them. And the fact they all wanted to puke at the site of all the blood in the water wasn't helping their already sick stomachs. He saw cover and dove for it. They did much the same. Knowing that there was a bullet with their name on it if they didn't.
They all fought hard and valiantly. They weren't quite sure where to go or where to fire at. It was quite disorienting with all the noise and explosions, but somehow they found a way to find their targets.
Horace's heart nearly stopped when a bullet hit his helmet. Nobody seemed to notice, but he would have to be dead to not have. He found who he thought did it, and fired 5 rounds in his chest and heart area. Halt seeing this told him that if he did something as stupid and reckless he would kill him personally
After a few hours they decided to move up so they could get closer shots.
"Move on!" Halt yelled. As they ran across the line of fire a grenade went off near Will. Not close enough to harm him, but it was enough to cause that fear only the toughest and bravest of men could shake off.
How long on this longest day
'Til we finally make it through
How long on this longest day
'Til we finally make it through
How long on this longest day
'Til we finally make it through
How long on this longest day
'Til we finally make it through
Will noticed soldiers were getting picked off from a certain point of the battlefield. He noticed snipers just to the northwest of them.
"Snipers over there!" He yelled.
Halt being the only surviving commander of the field informed them that they would throw all the grenades they had over their and to charge towards it. Telling them that once they did that they would start to see a small bit of the light that was at the end of the tunnel.
"Cover us when we charge!" Halt yelled at the group of soldiers next to them
The rising dead, faces bloated torn
They are relieved, the living wait their turn
Your number's up, the bullet's got your name
You still go on, to hell and back again
They threw their grenades as they were told, and when the last went off they ran firing and screaming along the way. Those other soldiers were doing their job. They of course got a little fire but for the most part they were okay.
As expected there was a small group of reinforcements inside the hidden uphill trench in case the American forces caught on but they were no match for the group of soldiers as they tore the Nazi's limb from limb.
Valhalla waits, Valkyries rise and fall
The warrior tombs lie open for us all
A ghostly hand reaches through the veil
Blood and sand, we will prevail!
Unexpectedly, there was about 10 Nazi's jumping from nowhere with knives. For the most part they blew them all away but from behind one of them grabbed Horace, kneed him in the back, and slit his throat.
It was as if time was in slow motion. Will heard Horace grunt and when he turned around he saw Horace being attacked.
Their hearts raced. They couldn't believe what had happened. Horace fell to his knees grabbing at his throat and making the unpleasant noise of him trying to breath but getting nothing but blood. As he fell, Will grabbed his Colt1911 and shot at the Nazi until all 8 rounds were gone.
"Horace! Horace!" They all exclaimed.
"I'll kill them all!" Will yelled running with his gun. Lucky for him Halt had the sense to stop him.
"Will! No! There's nothing we can do now. Horace is dead. We must face that fact."
"But I didn't want him to die! He wasn't supposed to! Why couldn't it have been me?!" Will sobbed as he slowly dropped to his knees.
"It's okay Will. He's in a better place now." Gilan said handing Will Horace's Dog Tag.
"What are we to tell Cassandra?" Will asked while Gilan gave him a hand up.
"Let's not worry about that right now. Let's worry about surviving this blood bath first. Then we can worry about the ride ho-"
Halt was stopped in his tracks as another one went charging at them. Will didn't find the sense in grabbing a gun though. He took care of the Nazi by his hands.
The Nazi slashed at Will but Will grabbed his hand as it went by, slammed it away from the Nazi, went behind, and strangled him to death.
Gilan and Halt, not knowing was was going on before it happened, did nothing but stare. They were amazing at how Will handled the situation.
"Looks like that hand to hand combat training wasn't as useless as once thought." Gilan said.
"No. Perhaps not." Will said gloomily.
They all took last glances at Horace. And muttered their goodbyes.
***
It was hours later and the battle was turning into blocking out the compassion in their hearts and killing all the remaining Nazi's that raised their hands in defeat.
Sliding we go, only fear on our side
To the edge of the wire
And we rush with the tide
All the water is red
With the blood of the dead
And though I'm still alive, I pray to God I survive
It was night, and they were all drinking to the glorious victory they had won. Drinking to the victory, and mourning the dead at the same time. Halt went up to make a speech.
"My brothers: Today was a day of victory. Today was the day that we went against all odds. But we all very well know that fighting the impossible odds, meant many deaths to friends, brothers, and fathers alike. Although death isn't an easy thing, we must remember that those who died, died for freedom. For the loved ones back home. And for the future of America. And though they may not be drinking here with us tonight, rest assured, their deaths, will not go in vain. This victory, showed Hitler a little of what he was dealing with. He didn't know we were this strong and this determined. And so I say this: All the deaths today will be avenged, in the future victories, and the victory of World War II."
All the men cheered and drank.
Will and Gilan met up with Halt and they went to talk with Sargent Rodney and Sargent Arald, to mourn the loss of their friend.
How long on this longest day
'Til we finally make it through
How long on this longest day
'Til we finally make it through
How long on this longest day
'Til we finally make it through
How long on this longest day
'Til we finally make it through
***
So I totally changed it and if you ask me, it's much better. Please review. It makes me think it wasn't good if I don't see many reviews. Please? It's the nice thing to do. Besides that it's a very easy thing to do.
Anyway, I once again solute all the soldiers who fought in the war and the ones who fight in the war right now. They're giving the ultimate sacrifice, and if you hate them you have problems. They're dying for you. If you don't even respect them all their work has gone in vain.
