CH 1
In the Prime ministers' conference room, the Prime Minister's advisers, Diet members and the Army General sat looking at the devastation in Ginza. A gate had opened up in the middle of a street, and a force of dragons, men on horses and other creatures had flooded through, killing many before the SDF gathered enough men to fight and destroy the threat. With hundreds of civilians dead and the hospitals packed with wounded, immediate action was demanded to protect from another such invasion.
"We have ground forces on the other side of the gate," the General said, "But we need heavy support. Removing the invaders from Ginzo was costly. The division we sent is under manned, and it will take four days to get armored support through the gate to help them."
"What you are saying is our men could be over-run," The Prime Minister stated.
"Yes, we need tanks and artillery through that gate yesterday," The General stated.
"Queen Lucy did say to use whatever we had to, to keep those invaders out of Japan." a woman said.
"General, where is the closest armored unit to Ginza right at this moment?" the Prime Minister asked.
"The sixth brigade. They will need a few days to be ready to move," The General said.
"Ooarai." Another woman said. Everyone looked at her.
Casing her a questioning look, the Prime Minister said, "That city is much farther away, surely anything coming from there will take longer."
"Not the city, the school," she explained. "Ooarai's school ship has just entered Tokyo bay to collect the rest of their team for the Sensha-do International matches."
A few snorts sounded. the Prime Minister frowned at her. "You would suggest sending school children into a war zone?"
"They have tanks, just give them real ammunition. They could be through the gate and ready to fight within 24 hours," she countered.
"But ... the idea of it. Not to mention we have no assurance that they can perform in a real battlefield setting!" a man snapped at her.
The General rubbed his chin in thought. In a musing tone, he said, "Their tanks are old, but in top shape. They do simulate real battle conditions on a weekly basis. At the moment, they can be in place and anything we've seen from the invaders so far, they should be able to handle."
"General, you can't be serious!" The Prime Minister said, looking at him as if tasting something bad.
The General looked the Prime Minister in the eye and said, "They are the closest heavy support, we are in a crisis situation, and tell me, Mr. Prime Minister, who has ever beaten the Terror Twins in combat?"
Suzanne sat in her office space in the tankery hangers going over this year's lineup. She couldn't help but notice how things had changed over the last few years. When she'd first became Commander of Ooarai's Sensha-do team, she was nervous she would not be able to hold the high standards Miho had set. Miho had moved on to join the UN forces, had a boyfriend and the last time they talked a few weeks ago, was seriously thinking about marriage and children.
Erwin, who had been so sad about graduating, called to see if Suzanne and Diane would join Japan's SDF to give her tank platoon that extra 'edge'. Erwin's tank, unsurprisingly, was named 'Hippo 2'. Most of Suzanne's tank commanders now, were the 'newbies' when she's started, and who were graduating seniors. Diane didn't want to move up from being gunner of Phoenix, and Nova was still the commander of that tank. Eddie proved he could command a tank, but wanted to stay as her gunner in Porcupine. Jerry was still gunning for Suki, and although neither said it, she was sure they would be married in the not too distant future. She had gotten all the teams arraigned so no longer did a tank become empty upon graduation. A mix of every grade was in each tank, which was good for the team as a whole.
..
Suzanne did feel sad this was their last year. The space program she, Diane and Eddie had joined promised they would be stationed together as long as they were married, so after the international meets, they were tying the knot in Kamakura at the Community center so most of their families could be there. Their future was bright. Letting out a sigh, Suzanne realized she knew exactly how Erwin felt when she graduated. She was really going to miss high school Sensha-Do.
Eddie came in and stood in the doorway looking confused. "Hey, Suz, are we low on ammunition or something?"
"No. We have plenty to for the rest of the year, most likely for training next year too."
Jerking a thumb over his shoulder, he asked, "Then what's with all those helicopters landing and dropping off ammunition crates?"
"What?" She got up and followed Eddie out. She'd heard the helicopters, but since they were making port today, she'd thought it was the normal supplies and visitors they got when coming in. Running out with Eddie, he pointed out the landing area near the gun range.
"See, all those crates are ammunition, and they dropped off a couple carriers too."
Suzanne ran out to where sailors and SDF personnel were moving and unhooking crates so the helicopters could fly away. Coming up to a Sargent who held a clipboard and was writing down each crate as it arrivedm Suzanne said, "Excuse me, what's all this?"
The Sargent said, "Three more crates to go. Five thousand rounds of high explosive 75mm, five hundred armor piercing 75mm, two thousand high explosive 88mm, five hundred round armor piercing 88mm, one thousand rounds high explosive 50 mm, two hundred rounds armor piercing 50mm, two towed ammo carriers, ten thousand rounds of thirty caliber ammo belts, four thousand of fifty caliber ammo belts, and a crate of night vision goggles and star flares."
Suzanne stared at her. "We don't do night matches and we already have the ammunition we need for the matches … and we don't even use our machine guns," Suzanne told her. "I don't even know if the school is going to pay for all this stuff!"
The Sargent eyed her and said, "This is not for the school, and these are not Sensha-do rounds. These are all combat rounds."
Suzanne's eyes flew open. "WHAT!" She cried. "Why give US combat rounds? Someone could get hurt or killed!"
"Hey, we were ordered to deliver it," The Sargent said. "We got the order, we brought it to you."
"There's been a mistake, take it back!" Suzanne said, pointing to a helicopter taking off.
A red headed sailor in dungarees came up to them and said, "Suzanne, show me where you want all this ammo."
"Don't move it from where it is" Suzanne told her firmly. "There's been a mistake."
"We can't leave it out here, it has to be stowed."
"LEAVE IT!" Suzanne snapped. "I'm going to go find out why we got sent combat ammo." Turning to Eddie she said, "Stay here, DO NOT let them mix this stuff with our tankery rounds!"
"You got it Suz."
.
Suzanne jumped in long leaps back to the tankery hangers. Her crews that had been making sure their tanks were ready were now all outside standing around a couple army men who'd arrived in an official school car. Like Eddie had been, her crews were looking confused.
The men were both brass, Suzanne didn't look close enough to see what their ranks were. She only noted that they could correct this horrid mistake. She landed on front of them and both men saluted her.
"Screw that! Can you tell me WHY we just got a delivery of tons of live COMBAT ammunition?" Suzanne asked loudly.
The team made a collective gasp at her words.
The men paused, their salutes came down. Apologetically, the one with the General's bars said, "I am sorry we did not get here sooner. I wanted to prepare you before the ammunition arrived. We have a very serious problem, Miss Kikumura. One only you and your team can help with."
Suzanne understood one thing, that order of combat ammo was not a mistake. "What?" she asked weakly.
In a grim tone, he nodded and said, "An unknown force has tried to invade Japan. The local SDF forces did manage to defeat them, with losses and many civilian losses. Currently, there's only a few hundred SDF forces on the line, and they need backup. Tanks or artillery, and they need it now. Our closest heavy guns are four days away, and another attack is imminent. Please, Miss Kikumura, I know none of you are in the military, but we need you and your tanks to keep our forces from being over run. If it were not a national crisis, I wouldn't be asking. Queen Lucy has authorized us to seek your help."
Suzanne stared at him as the blood drained from her face. Real combat against an aggressive enemy, with their tanks designed back in the nineteen thirties and forties. Against who knew what. "We'll get our asses kicked," she mumbled.
"The enemy has antiquated equipment also. If we did not think you stood a chance, we would not ask you to go out on the line," the General stated.
Suzanne had to put a mind arm out to hold herself up. She was feeling dizzy. "And we are the only armored force you have?" How pitiful was that? She thought.
"That is correct. Right now, a few hundred men is all that stands in the way of these invaders. Them, and you, if you agree to help us."
"Dear Yukaita," Suzanne whispered. She looked over her teams that were watching her intently. This wasn't a game. This was their lives. Each and every girl and boy looking at her could die if she agreed. Countless innocents could be slaughtered is she refused. Lives were in her hands. She felt like throwing up.
Haruki slowly walked up to Suzanne. "Hey Suz?" she said slowly. "This is really scary, I mean REALLY scary, but whatever you decide, Hippo team is behind you. You say go, we go."
"Anglerfish is ready to roll out," Alex announced, saluting to touch the brim of her confederate cap.
"I know you'll want Leopon there for some heavy hitting," Saburo said firmly. His crew nodded.
Suzanne looked at the junior boy who handled their Porsche Tiger and his team like a master. If she said yes, he might be killed also. If she said no, then how many other innocents would die?
"Butterfly is ready, say the word," Suki said bravely as she gripped Jerry's hand. He nodded.
Suzanne watched others nod. The whole team looked at her and gave nods, thumbs up or other positive signs. Not believing this would even happen to her, or her team, Suzanne met the General's eyes and said, "I will bring only those who volunteer. We leave when the ship docks. Now, tell me where we are going."
.
Kuribayashi Shino, the red headed girl in the third recon unit under that slacker Yoji, stood in the street near where workers were constructing a cage around the entrance to the Gate that had opened up. Since there were no communications through the gate yet, she had to stand around here and wait for the promised armored unit that was coming. She only hoped they would get some real help, and possible newer equipment. As it was, besides their small arms, the had a few machine guns some hand grenades and a couple mortars.
Shino let out a sigh and looked at her watch. 9 PM. "Well, looks like no help is coming today," she grumbled. It was tempting to climb back into Humvee and go report, but she had been ordered to wait.
She decided to get in the driver's seat and maybe catch a nap. Opening the door, she heard the rumble of tracks. Turning towards the noise, she cast a hopeful gaze at the street. Were those type 10's coming?
She desperately hoped so.
"MOVE!" a voice screamed, and a couple construction workers dodged to the side as a little tank, at least it looked like a tank, came around the corner towing an ammo carrier. Behind it, came a tank she'd never seen before, but it looked like someone had piled armor on a truck with the angled slopes. As she stared at the oncoming vehicles, she saw the animal caricatures painted on the sides and recognized them.
"High school kids!" she cried. Coming at her was the Porcupine, behind it was the one they called Platypus. Keeping up with tankery games (her favorite sport) she identified each tank as it turned the corner.
"Whoa, STOP!" she cried, waving her arm. Running up to Porcupine as it slowed and stopped, she yelled, "We ask for armor support, and we get High School Kids!"
Standing in the turret and wearing her helmet, Suzanne yelled back, "Be glad you got us! Show us to the front line."
"This is a joke, right?" Shino asked.
"Show us or I'll go find it myself!" Suzanne stated.
Shino wanted to cry. First she had to put up with a lazy, Otaku leader, and now they were sent kids who played at battle to fight a real one. With a huff, she said, "Follow me," and got in her Humvee and drove through the Gate.
.
Traveling through the Gate, which turned out to be a long tunnel, Suzanne let her driver, Yunari, keep pace with the soldier's car while she kept an eye on the headlights of Platypus behind her. Hearing they would loose coms passing through, she put her slowest tank right behind hers so they would not loose each other by sight.
The string of tanks behind her was long. After Platypus was Leopon, Phoenix pulling the second ammo carrier, Turtle, Anglerfish, Rabbit ( Which she got 37mm rounds for in case they needed to use armor piercing ammo), Mallard, who she's also gotten turret ammo for, Anteater, her three scout Chaffees, Butterfly, Tadpole and Chipmunk, then a line of Black Forest tanks who were waiting for them and agreed to come, four Panzer fours and four Tiger 2's. Urumu and Saunders weren't at the docks yet, and Suzanne didn't wait. The General said they needed to go now, so she brought want was available and had at least 75 MM guns.
Shifting between looking ahead and looking back, Suzanne saw they were exiting the long tunnel. The Humvee pulled to the side of a small camp. "Go slow through the camp," she told Yunari. Seeing a few soldiers standing around, she yelled, "Hey! Where's the front line?"
One of the soldiers pointed. "Fifty meters that way. We're formed in a semi-circle around the gate."
The General was right, this wasn't good. On the radio Suzanne said, "Platypus, stop to my left just up here. Ooarai, spread out to my left, the front line is only fifty meters away. As her tanks came through,she guided Ooarai tanks to her left, and the Black Forrest tanks lead by Otto (in honor of Otto Caruis) to her right. It wasn't the best defensive line, but she had little room to work with.
Suzanne stood atop her turret and scanned the terrain as the last tanks got in place behind the soldiers waiting behind small rocks and outcroppings for cover. Most of the ground was hilly, but she didn't see much that could stop a tank, other than a sharp rise about a kilometer out and steep inclines of hills off to their sides. Scanning out farther she noted torch lights about a kilometer and a half away. Enough to cover a line from the hill on the right across the horizon to the hill on the left.
"At least we got something," a voice said from below her. She looked down to see a man in an undershirt and uniform pants. It looked like he just got out of bed.
"What's the situation?" Suzanne asked.
The man waved a hand at the enemy and said, "They haven't attacked so far, but more keep coming. We're guessing there's about five, six thousand out there now."
"What do they have?" Suzanne asked as she worked on an attack plan.
"Some are mounted, horses and lances. Seen a couple dragons,but mostly bows, swords and shields," he said.
Suzanne stared at him. "Did you just say bows and swords?" she asked.
"Yeah. I'm Lt. Yoji Itami."
"Suzanne," Suzanne said, then asked, "They are really going to attack us with stuff like that?"
"They have. The danger is in their numbers, they got a lot of soldiers out there, and they don't mind dying. They hit us all at once, which I think is their plan, and we won't have enough bullets to stop them."
Suzanne shook her head in disbelief. "You're serious?"
"Yup. They came through the gate and attacked everyone they saw. Killed hundreds of civilians before we could lift a finger to stop them."
Tanks VS swords. Somehow it didn't seem fair, but this wasn't Sensha-do. This was real war against some backwards culture in a strange land. If she didn't take it seriously, her friends would be dying. "Are they stupid?" she asked.
"Seems so. Anyway, when they gather enough men, They will be coming down through that valley to attack us," Yoji said with a huff.
"This is nuts," Suzanne muttered. She got down into the turret and picked up her boom mike and put it on. "All tanks, this is Suzanne, listen up. We got a load of crazies out there with ancient weapons at one and a half kilometers out. They do aim to attack, and they are serious. Everyone, engines off. Otto, put half your teams down, we'll sleep in shifts. Guard duty is in your tank, ready to fire. Do not underestimate the enemy, they are dedicated. If you see any coming at us, raise the alarm. First thing in the morning, we're going to go visit them. Tonight, get some rest. Reveille is at zero four hundred."
"Suz, Anglerfish here, what is the alarm?"
"Shoot first, then start yelling."
"Gottcha."
Suzanne told Sodoko, her second year assistant driver, "Start with Playtpus, every other tank stand down. Guard change at twelve thirty."
Hopping down, Suzanne faced Lt. Yoji. "What scouting of their positions have you done?" she asked.
"Binocular assessment. We were told to hold." he said.
Frowning at him, she replied, "We were told to provide support, not sit here and wait for the enemy to attack when it is obvious they are going to."
Shino let out a snort and asked, "You realize how many are out there? How easily we'd be flanked?"
Suzanne looked at each of them and said, "Better get some sleep, about four thirty, it's going to get really loud around here." She then walked towards the higher hill on the left.
.
Walking out past the left defense line, Suzanne hopped over the low berm of dirt that was their defensive line and scanned the land ahead. She didn't see any mines, or other defensive measures. Just to be sure, she jumped over to a large rock, then another, then low on the hillside. Looking up, she felt someone following.
Diane landed beside her. "I'm coming too" she said.
Suzanne put a finger to her lips. "Shhh, quietly," she whispered. They climbed.
Using their mind arms, they climbed the steep hill. Arriving at the top, a figure near the edge stood up to look at them.
SPLAT
His head rolled off his shoulders and he fell dead.
"Diane!" Suzanne whispered harshly, horrified at what she'd just done.
"This is war, right?" Diane whispered back. Then nodded and said, "Look over there."
A small campfire crackled , a few tents around it. "Scouts. They probably know we're here." Suzanne mused. Looking through her night vision goggles, she found forms in tents, but no one else up. "We sneak along the edge," she whispered.
Traveling prone using their mental arms, they came to the curve of the hill. From up here they saw the lay of the land for quite a distance. Behind the rise Suzanne had seen from the Gate, there was indeed a massive number of tents, campfires and some horse corrals.
"A run down the middle, and we can go through them to come at them from behind," Diane said quietly.
Suzanne nodded as she looked at the rise. "Put shells over the top of the rise, we'll probably get a lot of them, except those right by it."
"Range … I'd say between one and a half and two kilometers?" Diane asked.
"All across that valley floor," Suzanne agreed. "It's gonna take a lot of shells."
"We got a lot."
"We're going to need the SDF to help clean up the mess."
"All the Lt. is seeing is the picket line, there has to be ten thousand or better down there."
"Yup, and he wants to wait for them. Not happening," Suzanne stated.
"Right. Let's go back and get some rest."
.
Suzanne and Diane return the way they came. Shino is standing at the line, waiting for them. As they bound back over the defense line, Shino scowled at them. "That is a good way to get shot," she stated.
"Go for it," Diane replied, casting her the same hard gaze.
"Stop," Suzanne told them. To Shino, she said, "I wasn't kidding about getting some sleep, we're attacking at zero four thirty."
"We were ordered to hold."
"There's roughly ten thousand soldiers over that rise. I'm not going to wait for them to come to us," Suzanne replied.
"Our orders come from the minister of defense."
"Mine came from Queen Lucy. Can you top that?" Suzanne asked, and continued on her way.
.
Looking out of the dark command hatch of Porcupine, Suzanne called, "Range to begin bombardment, one point five kilometers. Continue to fire in a spread of six degrees, a shell every half degree, elevate fifty meters and repeat, all the way out to two kilometers and resupply your ammunition as needed. Report upon completion Commence fire in five … four ... three … two... one... Fire!"
The entire front of the SDF line flashed in orange fire as all the cannons roared out their loads. Below her, Eddie was making adjustments after each shot as Suzanne reloaded for him. The pounding of the guns was deafening, startling many of the SDF members from a sound sleep. As the guns blasted out again and again, all the tank engines started up.
In the distance, balls of fire blossomed out on the ridge they faced, then over it. The underside of the clouds lit up from the multiple explosions.
.
Suzanne and her teams sat in place and fired their guns until they had to stop to resupply ammunition. When she'd gotten all those ammo crates, she'd thought it was too much. Now she was wondering if it was enough. In Porcupine alone, they had burned through the all 50 rounds on board. Eddie and Sodoko tossed the empty casings out onto the ground as she went to the Ammo carrier and dragged out three more crates and carried them with her mind arms back to Porcupine.
Other tank commanders, drivers and loaders were resupplying as they shot. Without the Ammo carriers right here, they only had about 20 minutes of shells. Suzanne realized if they attacked by themselves, they may find themselves out of ammunition in the middle of the battle.
By the time the pattern of shots she ordered was complete, they had used half their ammunition. Daylight was breaking, and besides the orange glow of the sun on the horizon, the area behind the ridge was also glowing orange. There were a lot of fires burning over there.
"All tanks, cease fire and stand down," Suzanne commanded. "Fill your ammunition to maximum capacity. All Commanders, meet me at the 75 MM ammo carrier."
.
At the Ammo carrier, Suzanne found Lt. Yoji had joined them. He stood by as Suzanne canceled the attack, explaining she was concerned about running out of ammunition away from the base.
"Excuse me, Miss," Yoji said. "That was quite an artillery show. The Major just arrived and wants a recon to find out the effect it had." Nodding behind him, he said, "I'm taking two squads out, so don't shoot at us."
Suzanne eyed him. She really didn't like his tone, but he was right, someone needed to recon the damage. "I'll go with you."
"I'd prefer you stay here. This is a job for..." Seeing Suzanne's eyes redden, he winced and said, "OK, fine, but grab a rifle first."
"Otto, you have command until I return."
The Black Forrest commander clicked her heels and nodded. "Yes, Ma'am. Please take a radio with you, just in case."
.
Walking out to climb the ridge with the LT. And a few of his men, Suzanne noted the flattened tents, bodies and wrecked equipment,mostly burnt pieces of wooden wagons, strewn over the landscape. Here and there, Soldiers in Roman type armor were getting the wounded on stretchers. Searching beyond the ruined camp, she saw columns of men in the distance approaching.
"Looks like more are coming," she noted.
"Maybe they will think twice before attacking us."
"One can only hope, Lt."
"You're not in the SDF, you can call me Itami. I noticed all your people call you Suzanne."
Looking through her binoculars, Suzanne saw another long column of men coming up another dirt road. "Lt. Yoji, there's another column of men. I think you were right, they are planning to over run us with numbers. I'm going to need more ammunition for my tanks. We need to expand the depth of our defensive lines also."
"We will, as soon as more men arrive."
Suzanne turned to look back at the hill. "Let's hope they bring barbed wire and land mines," she said.
A tall solider said, "Itami, riders coming, we should go back."
He nodded. "I need to talk to the Major anyway."
Walking back, Suzanne saw more vehicles coming through the gate. Thankfully, troops were spilling out of those vehicles and a few trucks drove down the hillside. Men emerged to begin driving posts in the ground and pulling out rolls of razor wire.
.
A proper camp was set up as soldiers worked to build a real defensive line. This was good, but Suzanne didn't see a singe tank or piece of artillery that had been brought. Three more mortar batteries were set up, and the Major had Suzanne set her tanks in three groups to cover the approaches to the hill.
They were left alone the rest of the day to build and prepare for another attack. Suzanne had the ammo carriers emptied, and the crates of shells stacked near the tanks that used them for a faster resupply. She also assigned a schedule of one tank per group as the guard tank, ready to fire on a moment's notice.
Their tents for each tank group were not far from their tanks. Living in tents meant no fooling around, but Suzanne, Diane and Eddie still put their cots close together.
A day later guards noted scouts were coming in visual range. Suzanne and Diane rigged up a rope ladder up to the hilltop where they had scouted out the enemy camp. Scouts went up, and once again, the land beyond the ridge was filling up with a massive amount of soldiers. The ammo carriers Suzanne sent back came back through the Gate full, along with four others.
.
Three days later, a mass of soldiers crested the ridge in a charge. Rockets, shells and thousands of bullets tore them apart. After the masses coming at them were ripped to pieces, spotters up on the hill directed Suzanne's tanks to fire over the ridge and hit more men who'd been waiting to take their turn to die.
With more men and supplies, Suzanne wondered why the Major didn't call for a counter-attack to finish the enemy off. Once the action died down, she went to see him.
Finding the major in his tent, Suzanne asked, "Sir, may I speak with you?"
The middle aged man looked up from his paperwork. "Come in. You are Miss Kikumura, correct?"
"Yes, Sir," Suzanne said. She came in and took her helmet off. "Sir, it's obvious we are much more well equipped than the enemy. Even though they hold greater numbers, we hold a serious advantage in firepower. Why don't we attack and envelope them? Take some prisoners and find out why they keep fighting."
The Major nodded. "I agree, but for now, our orders are to hold. With the help of your volunteers, Miss Kikumura, we have been able to do that. General Kouichirou is due to arrive soon with air support and artillery. When he gets here, our orders most likely will be changed. Until then, we hold."
"And no other armored support is coming?" Suzanne asked.
"All our modern tanks have digital communications and rely on GPS. None of that works here. Believe it or not, your tanks are exactly what we need. Solid, simple, survivable. As I understand, you had been planning to go to the international championships?"
"We've missed that opportunity," Suzanne said dryly.
"I am sorry. What you are doing now, is much more vital than adding another trophy to your collection. Japan needs you and your crews."
"So, we're here for the duration," Suzanne concluded.
"I'm afraid so, as are all of us. I understand upon arrival, you attacked the opposing forces with an artillery barrage?"
"Correct Sir. We scouted their positions, and I determined they were going to attack. Instead of sitting here waiting for it, I acted," Suzanne stated.
"You are used to being pro-active," the Major said with a nod. "While you are here, you must take orders as well as give them. Do not attack again unless authorization is given."
Suzanne bit her lip. "Sir," she said firmly. "I do understand we are here to defend Japan and are currently under the SDF. If I see a disaster in the making, however, I refuse to do nothing. There were thousands of troops, and Lt. Yoji only had a few hundred. If I had not acted, there is a good possibility he would have been over run."
"I am just saying you need to follow orders from now on."
"Give the orders, and I will follow them. If no orders are given, then I will take the action I see as most appropriate," Suzanne replied.
The Major frowned at her. "I have given my orders, is there anything else?"
"No Sir, thank you for your time," Suzanne said and bowed to him. She walked out of the tent, resisting the urge to scream.
.
As Suzanne feared, another attack came. A solid carpet of men came over the ridge. Again, they were blown up and gunned down as they tried to advance. Slowly, the carpet of corpses grew closer as the guns roared and bodies flew. The first razor wire line was breached, flattened by the numbers of dead forcing it down. Most of the way to the second wire entanglements, the last of the attackers fell. This time, artillery shot beyond the ridge.
"Suz!" Sodoko said,"The Major wants us to recon beyond the ridge and see if there are any of them left."
Suzanne nodded. She keyed her mike. "All tanks, we are advancing. Fill your ammo stores, then drive to the inner defense wire. We'll form a line there and continue on." She then asked, "Eddie, what do we need for ammo?"
"Thirty two rounds, HE. Get another crate also," he replied. "Yunari, help me pitch these used casings out."
In a short time they were reloaded with an extra case of ammo under Suzanne's command chair. As tanks were loaded up they drove out to the wire. Suzanne noticed vehicles packed with men came up behind them. Counterattack, it was about time.
Once all her tanks were in place, Suzanne ordered, "All units, advance slow, stay in line."
The tanks rolled forward, crushing down the razor wire. Soon, they were rolling over the mass of bodies. Suzanne could hear bones crunching under the tracks as they went along. Now and then came a sickening pop she did not wish to know what it was. Starting uphill, Porcupine slipped on the bodies. To her left, Phoenix was stopped, the treads churning up gore. An arm was going around with the track, stuck in a tread. They made progress up the rise slowly. Partway up more men charged at them, waving swords and shooting arrows.
"FIRE!" Suzanne yelled over her mike.
The tanks opened up on the attackers, blowing them back. Cannon and machine guns added to the carnage lying on the ground. The men behind them added a hail of small arms fire.
"There's too many of them!" someone said over Suzanne's command channel.
"Drive through them!" Suzanne yelled back. "If you can't shoot them, run them over!"
The slaughter was tremendous. Even Porcupine's small 50MM gun was blowing holes in the attackers as Eddie shot as fast as the gun recycled. Leopon's shots were clearing circles of men ten meters to a side, and it's machine gun was felling three rows deep of men screaming as they charged.
"Give up you fools!" Suzanne yelled at the diminishing mass. Mortar rounds and small arms fire came in from behind.
"Suz, I'm running low!" Eddie cried. Suzanne quickly refiled his magazine. Pings came from the back of Porcupine. The SDF was hitting them as well as the enemy.
Blocking the rounds coming from behind, Suzanne pulled out the assault rifle she had borrowed and sprayed the oncoming men, dropping more. Some had turned and were fleeing now over mound of dead and wounded.
The mass of attackers had diminished to only a thin line in front of the tanks that were spread out. The last few turned and ran, or died screaming.
"Everyone cease fire!" Suzanne commanded as she saw the last survivors running away. "All tanks, report status."
.
"This is insane!" the gunner of a Black Forest Tiger 2 cried.
"Keep sharp, all of you!" Otto barked. "This is what happens in real war, we're not playing a game here! ANY of those men would love to kill you. That means we have to kill them FIRST!"
In many other tanks, vomit was splashing on the floor, and choking sounds were heard. Despite their distress, every single one of them kept doing their jobs.
.
It didn't hit Diane until after the guns fell silent. She heard Nova groaning and saw she was covering her mouth. Diane looked out her hatch and saw the masses of dead. With Nova 'urping', and the driver crying, it was all Diane could do to keep from puking down the side of Phoenix. The sight of bodies thick on the landscape in front of her, the ground itself red from blood, was the most disgusting thing she'd ever seen.
"Suzanne said return to base."
Diane lowered herself back in and shut the hatch. "Come on, let's get out of here!" she snapped. Seeing Nova hadn't even acknowledged the order, or reacted to the tank moving, she clasped Nova's hand.
'Hey … Hey, Nova!" Diane barked.
Nova turned her stricken face to Diane. "What did we do?" she asked in a weak voice.
"What we had to. You're the tank commander, get it together. We're headed back for base."
Nova only nodded.
.
"Guys, everyone all right?" Suzanne asked her crew.
"We're good," Eddie told her. She noted he looked pale.
"I'm OK," Yunari said with a sniffle.
"I'll make it," Sodoko said tonelessly.
Suzanne knew they had all been traumatized. What they had done was horrible, not matter how you looked at it. Men had run at them, and they had killed thousands, up close and personal. They watched as right in front of them, bodies being torn apart and heads exploding. They did it to save those men around the Gate and protect the citizens of Japan.
She keyed her mike. "All tanks, keep in mind we had no choice. It was those men or our own helpless citizens. Make sure your crews know that. It was … hard, but it had to be done. All tanks return to your places in the perimeter and reload your ammo. More of those men may come, I doubt this is over. Suzanne out."
With the huge amount of dead, only troops on foot could advance. Leopon had to be towed out of the mire of blood and gore so it's tracks were able to grip solid ground to move.
Recon showed that if there were any men left, they had fled. The next few days, the Sensha-do teams discovered another gross aspect of this war. Burning and burying the massive amount of bodies.
.
The Empire had called them to war to take back the holy Alnus hill from an invader. King Duran of Elbe met other local kings and their troops to go meet the Empire troops and remove this scourge from their holy place.
The only thing was, once they met, they didn't find the Empire's army. Duran sat quietly as the other leaders argued about who would have the glory of leading this attack. All they while, the lack of Empire troops here bothered him. Something wasn't right.
Instead of charging ahead with the others, Duran kept his troops back and watched. His fellow kings and lords charged forth, and were slaughtered by massive amounts of magic. He watched fire and noise destroy their massed army. What a waste of good soldiers.
Although his scouts could find no Empire troops, they did find signs they had been here. A split helmet, a bloody shield that had many holes in it. He got the idea Empire troops had charged and suffered the same fate.
Duran decided a normal charge was foolishness. Getting his commanders together, he planned a night attack. No horns and screaming war cries. His men would go in under the cover of darkness silently. Spread out, they would sneak up on the wizards and attack while they slept. He would do what so far, 400,000 men had failed to do. He brought his army up to the last cover available under the shroud of darkness. There, he kept insisting silence, not even any talking unless it was vital, then only whispered.
They would rest today, and in the middle of the night, they would creep up on the enemy and destroy them.
.
In the Elbe camp, Duran awoke to thunderous explosions. Grabbing his sword, he ran outside his tent to see others scrambling up as fireballs were tearing apart men as they came out of their tents. Night had fallen, but wizards were killing his men."What is this?"he cried.
One of his knights staggered up to him. "We're being attacked, but there is nothing to fight back against!"
"Rally the men, it has to be a wizard! We must attack Alnus hill now!" Duran yelled.
Knights got on horses to check the hills to the sides as men grabbed their weapons and searched for something to kill. Duran noted the explosions were coming deeper and deeper into the camp. It HAD
to be wizards! He'd planned on a night attack after a full day of rest, but the enemy preempted him. How did they know his army had arrived? In the explosions ripping his men apart, he rallied his forces to form up and attack.
Running back into his tent, he quickly suited up to lead his men in an attack to stop that wizard. Something flew through the wall of his tent to crash into his arm. It embedded itself through his armor and knocked him down. Looking at the offending object, he fould a piece of steel. He gritted his teeth and pulled it out.
What kind of bow shot a jagged piece of steel? he wondered. This meant there were archers or catapults already surrounding his camp. Quickly, he got himself ready and charged out to do battle.
His camp was wrecked. Men and horses screamed in pain as the explosions tore through his forces. Screaming his orders, he got anyone who could walk on his feet and headed for the ridge. Many of his men that joined him were limping. Some fell from exhaustion or blood loss. Very few were untouched.
Behind him the explosions kept ripping up his camp and shredding anything close to the fireballs.
He estimated only half his men gathered for the charge. Getting his men together, he noted a lack of noise. The explosions slowed to only a few, then stopped.
"Men of Elbe!" Duran roared, "Stand tall and kill all those before us! We go to our glory, CHARGE!"
The mass of men ran over the top of the ridge and towards Alnus Hill. Once over the top, many, including Duran slowed. Coming down Alnus hill towards them were a line of white lights. Some were casting light to the sides as they came. The ground under him was trembling and an ominous heavy growling was in the air. What beasts were they facing? Bracing himself, he yelled,"Our enemy, KILL THEM!"
Leaving Alnus hill, many of the line of lights spread out and came at his men. Loud booms and a rattle of noise with lightning fast streams of light came from many of the lights as they charged. The explosions came again, right into his men who were attacking. His men fell like wheat before the scythe. As the lights grew closer, Duran saw large bulky shapes behind the lights. The few arrows that were shot bounced away. Duran grabbed a bow and an arrow and drew down on a beast coming at him. Honor demanded he repay them with an arrow. He shot, the arrow hit the dark mass and ticked to bounce away.
Dragons? Elephants? What were those things? This had to be why the attacks on Alnus hill had failed so miserably. The damned Empire had sent him and his men out to be devoured by those things.
Duran felt a hard punch from behind and the world went black.