Rome
Atlas One-Three
Ghost P.O.V
Several explosions shake the city as Atlas One-One and One-Two destroy the cities ammunition stores and Atlas One-Four begin their assault on the military headquarters with an A.S.T providing support. Looking down at the Duchess and her two guards and I know this is the perfect opportunity to strike, the trio is looking around confused and panicked. With a wave of my hand Razor attacks decloaking in-between the guard kicking one of them to the ground before sticking his knife deeply into the others throat, before the guard on the ground could recover Razor throws his knife into the man's heart. I quickly jump down from the roof top and grab the Duchess, the stupid brat still doesn't know what's happening. I look up at the sky to see the two Assault Airships coming through the two portals and the first fighters beginning their strafing runs on the city.
"The city is ours girl" I whisper into her ear and I can't help but enjoy the feeling of her scrim in my arms making a pathetic attempt to escape. "Forget about running you can't escape brat now be a good girl and I promise not to break your legs"
"Romagna will never fall to you" The Duchess says with defiance in her voice that I can't help but admire. "We held off the Neuroi and we'll hold off you"
"Keep telling you self that" I tell her tightening my grip. "I wonder how long you will last. It will be so much fun breaking you"
Military Headquarters Rome
Major General Amore Costanzo P.O.V
"Sir the northern half of the city has fallen!" A badly injured Karlsland runner shouts as he runs into the HQ. "I have a message from Major Jacob Behm. All ammunition in the city destroyed we have suffered massive casualties suffered and need reinforcements"
"Send two divisions north and where's the reinforcements I requested?" I ask turning around to face the other in the room.
"All units in the area are in route sir but long range communication has just been cut" Someone shouts back.
"Sir another enemy squad has arrived to join the assault on us" Another person shouts back.
Dam this isn't good. We were able to prevent the four man squad from entering the building that attacked us a few minutes ago but thanks to that metal giant man we weren't able to push them back. Now with a new squad helping them they will most likely will take this building. We have only a hand full of soldiers left who are able to fight, we have some wounded who are still able to fire their weapons but I doubt they could do much in this situation. Ammunition is running low and morale is even lower. We won't last much longer unless we get help soon. I look across the room at all the faces staring at me, looking to me to save them and the city. I don't think anything can save us or the city at this point. Thankfully a loud bang distracts me and draws the room's attention away from me.
"What was that?" I ask.
"Roof guards report a pod crashed into the roof and enemy soldiers exiting the pod" Someone answers and I quickly turn to face him.
"How many?" I ask him and he quickly gets back onto the radio.
"I lost contact with the roof guard's sir" The man replies sounding depressed.
"Contact Colonel Amone Talone and tell him his in command of the city's defence" I order while drawing my pistol. "Destroy all documents and communication equipment this place is about to fall"
Everyone follows my orders without making a sound keeping their heads down low not even trying to hide their depression at our situation. The sound gun fire is getting closer and closer and I know it will be right outside the door in under a minute, holding this building is a lost cause so there's no point in trying to hold out for reinforcements. Once I hear the right outside the door I raise my pistol and aim it at the door, two guards in the room do the same with their submachineguns and I can hear some of the men behind me take aim at the door with their pistols while a few I hear hiding under their desks and tables. This is it, this is how it all ends. I won't die an old man in my bed but here on the battle field against a human enemy not a Neuroi.
"Get ready" I order as the gunfire dies down outside of the room.
The next thing that happens is the door being blown in and then we fire into the doorway bring down someone as they run into the room. Several more of them follow firing as they enter bring down most of my men but at the cost of two of their own. Just as the third one dies a bullet slams into my shoulder knocking me to the ground. The pain is instant and unbearable as I feel my should burn as if on fire, I watch the last of my men get gun downed before one of the invaders steps on my shoulder causing me to cry out in agony. I see the man smile at me pain as he raises his gun and takes aim. My last sight of this world is the flash of a barrel before everything goes blank.
On the streets of Rome
Charlotte E. Yeager "Shirley" P.O.V
I'm running for my life with Yoshika and Lucchini as men swarm the city gunning down anyone caught in their sights. The city is overrun and most of its defenders are dead. All around me the city burns and corpse pile up, the screams of the dying hurt my ears and seem to have put Yoshika into some kind of shock. Lucchini is looking after her as she is too afraid to do anything else. I'm the only one of us armed, I managed to get my B.A.R out of the truck before it was hit by a rocket destroy the other twos weapons and our Strikers. People have flooded the street trying to get away from the invaders but every street seems to have an enemy squad waiting to gun you down. The enemy is like nothing I've seen before, they can turn invisible, jump over or onto buildings and they use powerful weapons that make ours look like toys in comparison.
"This is Colonel Amone Talone Major General Amore Costanzo has been killed and I am assuming command" A voice announces over the radio in my ear. "All forces are ordered to regroup and dig in at the Colosseum. I repeat all forces are ordered to regroup and dig in at the Colosseum"
"You guy's hear that?" I ask turning back to face the two girl's.
"Yeah" Lucchini replies nodding her head but Yoshika still remains silent holding her ears trying to block out the screams around us which must be painful for her to hear.
"Lucchini we are heading to the Colosseum look after Yoshika for me while I lookout for the enemy and don't let your guard down" I tell her.
"I'm on it" Lucchini responds as I turn back to face the direction we are heading.
On-board the A.A.S Atlas
Jonathan Irons P.O.V
I'm on the bridge of the Atlas as it enters the blue like above New Baghdad with two more Assault Airships follow close behind, these ships along with more infantry, armour and artillery form the second wave of the assault. We are going to crush the defenders and clam the city for our Atlas and the greater good, then the country. Reports from the troops in the battle say that the northern half of the city is secure and the southern half will be under our control soon. The battle is going well and better than expected, our original plan predicted the city would take a day to secure but if things keep going like they are then the city will fall within an hour. The fact that we have destroyed their HQ and ammunition has devastated them and we can hear every communication they are sending all over the country. I know where the reinforcements are coming from and that the surviving defenders of the city are regrouping at the Colosseum and digging in there. Conquering the city will be easier than expected I just need to wait for them to gather then crush them once and for all.
The Atlas will be their demise. It's not just an ordinary Assault Airship as it's been modified into a Destroyer Airship. The Atlas doesn't carry drop pods but cannons, four 155 mm/62 caliber Advanced Gun System's, six 30 mm Mk 46 Mod 2 Gun Weapon System and ten missile launchers. It is equipped with the same anti-aircraft weapons as the regular Assault Airships consisting of two anti-aircraft missile launchers and four Gatling gun's. The armour is thicker than the regular airships and with all that added weight the Atlas has two extra engines to keep it airborne and moving. Another addition added just recently to the Atlas is a hanger containing a fighter squadron and four Volts which are ready to take off and join the battle once we are through the blue portal. This assault will be the first time the Atlas is used in combat and only its second mission. Too be honest I'm looking forward to seeing the results.
"Sir we will be exiting the portal shortly" The Captain of the airship tells me stepping up beside me.
"Good now let's see what this ship can do" I reply stepping forward to get a better view.
A burning city comes into view once the blue light starts to fade and it's a beautiful sight, my forces run freely through the streets and saw through the skies showing these people the meaning of shock and Awe. This will be easy conquering these primitive people who are still learning the art of modern warfare. Now anti-aircraft gun fires at the Atlas and I look down to see every one of their guns burning. This must be what a god feels like unleashing a deadly unstoppable destruction down on the earth and watching it from above unfold. I can get use to this feeling and know I will be feeling this a lot. I can picture it now, me looking down onto a burning country just picturing how I would rebuild the country, this must be what God felt like while watching the great flood. I think I'll keep this country and rebuild it, I'm going to start planning the rebuild as soon as the city is under my control. I'm confident the country will fall as quickly as this city did.
"Sir the Assault Airships are waiting for the order to begin landing their troops" A bridge officer tells me drawing my attention away from the beautiful burning city below. "Shill I tell them to go ahead?"
"No" I answer forming a plan in my head. "Tell them to wait for my order then drop their troops onto the Colosseum"
"I see where you are going with this" The Captain tells me as he looks at the burning city.
"Yeah wait for them to gather then crush them" I reply getting an approving smile from the Captain. "The city will fall in no time"
"An excellent plan sir" The Captain tells me. "I assume you want the Atlas to hold fire until you give the word"
"No we will move to the cities out skirts and attack the reinforcements before they reach the city" I tell him.
"Understood sir" He replies. "Our guns will annihilate them"
"Show no mercy this battle will be a message to the people of this world" I say looking back at the burning city. "They will surrender or die"
On the streets of Rome
Private Gregory Delbridge P.O.V
"Enemy armour twelve o'clock" Our tank commander calls out.
I'm the gunner in a Churchill tank aiming the tanks QF 75 mm main gun at the enemy tank. It's not like any tank I've seen before, it walks on four legs able to cross anything in its path. It has a large turret with a big gun, machinegun on top that moves without a man manning it and what looks like two Fliegerhammer's on top. It doesn't stand a chance as our tank is joined by another Churchill and a Karlsland Tiger tank.
"Distance five hundred meters" I say looking through the gunners sight.
"AP round loaded" Our tank loader announces.
"Fire!" Our tank commander orders.
I fire the cannon and our round hits the turret just to the left of the gun but our round bounces right off its armour hitting a nearby building instead. The other Churchill tank also fires but I watch his round bounce off the enemy's tank just like ours did, the Tiger fire's but again the round bounces off. Bloody hell we didn't even scratch that thing. Then I see a sight that makes my heart freeze and my breathing stop, the enemies turret is turning towards us and I can now see the inside of the tanks barrel. The first shot the enemies tank fires hits the Tiger dead centre causing it the explode in a ball of fire and it reloads at an astonishing rate quickly destroying the other Churchill sending its turret flying several meters into the air landing beside the wrecked tank.
"AP round loaded!" Our loader shouts.
"Fire and pull back!" Our tank commander orders. I pull the trigger and hit one of the Fliegerhammer's on top causing it to explode knocking the tank over. But as the tank falls it fires and its round shoots all the way down the length of our right track completely destroying it and immobilizing us. "Abandon tank!"
We all start to leave the tank but only the commander and myself make it out before the enemy tank gets back up and fires. This time his round hits us dead on causing our tank to explode send the commander and I flying and killing the rest of the crew. I land hard on my back getting the wind knocked out of me and sending a wave of pain throughout my back. Blood starts to drip into my eyes and when I move my hand to wipe it I find a small piece of metal stuck into my forehead. Just touching the metal is painful so I don't dare remove it and stand up getting a painful response from my back as I do. I quickly spot my tank commander getting up from where he landed holding his left arm which has his bone sticking out of it.
"We need to get out of here sir!" I shout as I run over to him.
"I know follow…" Is all he can say before a burst of machinegun fire knocks him to floor that leaves several holes in his body that blood squirts out of. I only get a quick glimpse of the enemy tanks turret before it fires another burst that ending my life.
On the streets of Rome
Yoshika Miyafuji P.O.V
I can't do this I can't. Their screams are too much and knowing I can't do anything to help them is making it even worse. All these people dying around me is just awful, they are dying in agony and there's nothing I can do that will end their pain. I can't even remove my hands from my ears in case I get overwhelmed by the screams all around me, I'm too afraid to lower them because I know the screams around me will destroy me if I don't block them out. I'm barely aware of what's happening around me, I know the cities under attack and burning, I know Lucchini is holding and guiding me through the city and I know that a lot of people are dead and dying around me but I refuse to believe it. This can't be happening, we are at war with the Neuroi not human's, humans can't do this to other humans. I must be dreaming I must be. Lynne will wake me up any minute now and tell me it's just a dream and everything will be ok and Rome if fine, she'll hold me until I'm better and then we'll make breakfast tighter before Sakamoto tortures us.
In Route to Rome
Lynette Bishop "Lynne" P.O.V
"We will be over Rome soon" Minna tells everyone as we fly as fast as we can towards the city. We can see the smoke in sky from the fires within the city. "There are two ships flying above the city we are tasked with destroying them while the 504th takes out the enemy fighters"
"The enemy is using advanced technology and the city garrison has suffered heavy casualties so stay on your guard we don't know their capabilities" Sakamoto adds. "Also Yoshika, Shirley and Lucchini are somewhere in the city so keep your eye out for them"
"Do we know if they are all right?" I ask worried for my friend, I don't know if I can handle it if Yoshika died.
"We can't contact them" Minna answers looking away from the group. "We lost contact with everyone in the city so we don't know the current situation there"
"All we know is that the city is under attack" Sakamoto takes over sensing Minna's worry for the tree witches in the city is about to show in her voice. "Under attack by humans"
I just can't believe it that we are at war with our fellow human's it just can't be true. There are people like Maloney who would try but I don't think they are powerful enough to do something like this. I just hope that Yoshika, Lucchini and Shirley are alright, please be alright Yoshika. It's probably stupid of me to worry about her as she's been in dangerous situations before and survived so I know that she'll be alright, I just can't shake the feeling that Yoshika is hurt somewhere or… already… dead. I really hope I'm wrong and Yoshika's alright but this worry is starting to eat away at me.
Outside New Baghdad
Sentinel Task Force
Major Cormack "Sentinel Zero-One" P.O.V
The attack on Atlas has taken an unexpected turn and the UN forces including Sentinel as Command gathers more Intel on the situation. A massive blue light has appeared over New Baghdad and so far five Assault Airships, several fighter Squadrons and countless amounts of VOLTs have disappeared into the light. Command has halted the attack in case this light is some kind of weapon but I don't think it is because if that light is a weapon then we wouldn't be standing here right now. I have a feeling that this has something to do with Project Magic, we've been hearing whispers of this project for some time but we still don't have a clue what it is, even Jack Mitchell, Ilona or Gideon know about it despite years of service for Atlas and being close to Jonathan Irons Atlas's leader. Irons played Project Magic pretty close to his chest and now I believe it's finally unleashed no one has a clue what it is or how to counter it.
"Sir Commands making a mistake we need to keep pushing" Gideon tells me clearly not happy at the order to halt our advance. "We have them and any delay is just giving them time to dig in"
"I know but I can see why" I reply. "We have know idea what that blue light is or what it does"
"But still" Gideon says just as grumpily. "We still shouldn't have stopped we should have carried on our advance we just needed to be more cautious"
"Well that we can agree on" I agree. "Every second we give them will only make their defences stronger and cost us more lives to take"
In Route to Rome
Gertrude Barkhorn P.O.V
We nearly there, nearly over Rome just hold on a little longer Yoshika we will be there soon. I hoe she's alright I can't go through what I went through with Chris if anything happened to her, it early killed me and the only reason I'm still alive is because of Yoshika's healing magic. If they've so much a hurt a hair on her head then I will personally make each and every one of them pay for it, they will regret the day they hurt one of my friends. Yoshika just needs to hold out a little longer as I can see Rome in the distance and the smoke from its burning buildings from the base. We will be over the city in less than a minute she just needs to hold out until then. As we approach the city I can see our Intel was wrong, there are four airships not two like Intel said there will be and the further two appear to be dropping something onto the Colosseum while the closer two are just hovering over the burning city. Jet fighters swarm the skies hunting for targets on the ground. The only good thing is that they seem to be focused so much on the burning city below that they aren't watching the sky allowing us to approach undetected. Or so we thought.
As we approach the burning city of Rome a pair of jet fighters appear out of nowhere and position themselves right behind us. Before we have a chance to react we are dodging machinegun fire from the two jets as another pair of jets dive down on us guns blazing. It's a miracle we were able to dodge the incoming bullets and escaped unharmed, those jets came out of nowhere and gave us little time to react, I will never know why or how we survived that. I look around to see our squad spread out all over the sky with the four jets making attack runs before pulling away leaving us no chance to counter. The enemy jets are too fast for us to fight against, by the time we manage to counter after their attack runs the enemy jets have already flew out of range of our guns. If only the Jet Striker worked then we would stand a better chance against them and this fight would be less one sided.
"Everyone pair up!" Minna orders as the jets relentless onslaught continues. One of each pair will block the enemy's attack while the other returns fire!"
"Yes ma'am!" Everyone shouts back in response.
I pair up with Hartmann just as one of the jets attacks her, she puts up her shield blocking every shot without breaking a sweat. I open fire once the jet is in range hitting the jet several times in its left wing causing the jet to spin out of control exploding once it hits the ground. Looking around I see Sakamoto bring down another jet while Minna blocks and Perrine damage another while Lynne blocks for her. The damage jets limps away closely followed by the last remaining undamaged jet who has enough sense to pull back.
On the streets of Rome
Charlotte E. Yeager "Shirley" P.O.V
"Shirley come in!" Sakamoto's voice suddenly speaks up over the radio over the sound of battle. "Shirley are you there?"
"Yes I'm here!" I reply grateful for the first time in my life to see the Major, the other times I see her is normally followed by a lecture and a tortuous training regime. "We're hold up in a house"
"Ok hold your position and wait for further orders" Sakamoto orders as I look up to see the 501st fly over the city.
"Yes ma'am" I reply watching the witches fly overhead.
