The jet plane raced towards the city as the pilot spoke through a microphone while Mikhail listened through the headpiece in his helmet "Sir this plane is designed for fast extractions and drop offs, we have tested them on extraditing traitors or bringing those who wish to join our Glorious Soviet Republics. The way it works is under your seat the hatch opens and drops you quickly to the ground, there is a parachute that opens using the yellow handle there. Once you pull it will disconnect the seat. The drop off is in thirty seconds."
Mikhail readied himself and took deep breaths, the paratrooper training he took was not his favorite part of the academy by any stretch of the imagination. He looked down and saw the city was being torn apart and the fear of plummeting through the sky suddenly disappeared and a new emotion entered his head. Only hatred for an enemy that would dare attack one of the most important cities in the Union mattered now "Commander the headquarters for the city is near, good luck."
The hatch opened as Mikhail took a deep breath as he was dropped out. He landed quickly in the streets and ran towards the fortress on the lake. He heard gun fire and saw several conscripts being cut down by the Imperial troopers who had what seemed to be electric swords. One saw him and pointed and charged. He was unprepared when he saw them running at him with the swords that so easily killed his Comrade but steeled his nerves.
Mikhail showed no fear to the enemy and pulled out his side arm, an automatic pistol and aimed, they were brave men, too brave to just stop and use their rifles. Instead they all were shot by his precise gunfire. He grabbed one of the swords off the dead and brought it with him. The Science Corps would be very interested in these. Maybe they could make bayonets with this tech.
The military base of operations in the city were also under siege by the Imperials. Mikhail decided that it would be important for reinforcements to join before he would lead an assault on the fortress. As he turned through the streets he knew well from his time here he saw the battle. The base was an iron beast that would not give in to the pounding of the enemy cannons and guns while heroic Flak Troopers and Conscripts fired from dozens of trenches and sandbags.
Mikhail looked around and saw a Japanese light tank that was facing away from him and battering the barricades surrounding the facility. Mikhail quietly crept up to it and jumped on the hatch. He opened it and lit the sword. The crew had no idea he was there until they were cut apart.
He knew all tanks even these advanced light tanks had the same basic design as his hammers and apocalypse tanks and felt oddly comfortable in it. He aimed the cannon at the Empire forces and fired. He did not expect the blue dart like projectile but continued to fire. They did not understand the apparently friendly fire until it was too late and most of their forces were killed in the brutal barrage and the mass of conscripts jumping over the barricades and cutting them down with their bullets and bayonets. None survived and those left after the massacre took their swords and ran them through their chest.
Mikhail quickly disembarked the tank and walked up to his new soldiers "I am Commander Mikhail Aristov, I am in command of all forces in the city we need to get to the fortress and protect it from the Imperials."
"Not all forces tovarisch." Aristov saw a large man wearing the uniform of a tank commander. "Oleg Vodnik? It has been too long." They both shook hands and smiled. They were friends in the Academy and had fought together in the first days of the Liberation War.
"Indeed comrade let us reminisce of the good old days after we defeat the Imperialist forces, I have several platoons of Flak troopers all fresh from the gulags ready to aid us in the battle." Mikhail looked at the Flak troopers many of whom had prison tattoos under their red uniforms. He walked up to them and several tensed up and began sweating fearing they did something wrong. After several moments of silence and inspection Mikhail put out his hand "The Motherland thanks you for serving the People."
"But sir I am Slovakian." Mikhail smiled and grabbed his shoulder "And I am Belarusian, lets show these Russians what we foreigners can do huh?" The Flak trooper smiled, Mikhail was well aware that a few words can inspire even the most uncommitted soldier if they were the right ones and Mikhail was fairly certain these ones were.
Mikhail looked at his wrist communicator and saw Dasha was contacting him "Commander the Empire is attacking the Hermitage Museum, we must not loss such vital parts of our history. Natasha herself is being sent in with several bullfrogs and several squads of flak troopers and regulars."
Mikhail was not as surprised as he should have been finding out that the most well-known Hero of the Soviet Union was under his command, perhaps all of the unexpected events of recent have dulled his emotions. He nevertheless was thrilled such a legendary soldier of the Soviet Union was under his command for the battle.
She took the initiative and contacted him "Commander Aristov I have been notified of your arrival, I and a squad of soldiers are arriving at the Hermitage and will eliminate all forces here and then proceed to the Fortress, the Bullfrog transports are taking us across the water."
He saw several figures fly into the air with parachutes and the sound of gunfire as they rained down their anger and bullets on the Imperial forces desecrating their monuments. Oleg spoke interrupting Mikhail's marveling "We should reinforce them."
"You are right of course, just admiring her talents." Oleg raised an eyebrow and hit his shoulder "Just her talents?" Mikhail looked at him with a sideways glance "There is another woman who I admire in that way."
"Soldiers of the USSR move out!" Mikhail hopped on one of the bullfrog transports as it crashed into the cold waters along with his and Oleg's companies of soldiers including many Police and Militia forces of the city. He heard the gunfire around the Hermitage stop and several parachutes heading to the Fortress.
The Bullfrog climbed on shore and Mikhail leapt off ready for a fight before seeing the piles of Imperial soldiers. There must have been close to a company strength of Imperial warriors and tankbusters killed and most seemed to be from only one bullet.
He found Natasha climbing up one of the statues and looked down "One moment commander, I saw an Imperial officer a few seconds ago, ah ha." She pulled a trigger and Mikhail could only assume she made the shot when she marked in a little red book.
She jumped down and saluted. He returned it stoically but it was hard not to notice her uniform was essential just a Kevlar sports bra but Mikhail said nothing about it "I am honored to have you here Natasha." She was a beautiful but terrifying woman who could use her gun more deftly than any other soldier in the Union.
"Likewise commander, I remember you from our fighting in western Poland. We should get ready I spotted a full column of Imperial armor and all of them can move across the water or fly but almost all can land with their odd technology." Mikhail nodded and had the conscripts occupy and reinforce several buildings while the Flak troopers cleaned and rearmed their weapons of destruction.
Mikhail joined his soldiers in one of the defensive positions when he heard his wrist communicator sound again. He saw the symbol of the empire and spoke to himself "How the hell did they get our frequencies."
A very pretentious looking enemy officer with hair that would have been cut down in any respectable military gloated "Greetings from the Empire of the Rising Sun. I am Commander Kenji Tenzai and I will have the pleasure of dismantling your forces and destroying your beloved artifacts." Mikhail's eyes burned with rage "I would like to see you try."
"A Gaijin that welcomes death, I can work with that. All forces converge on that island." Mikhail looked out and saw the armored column Natasha told him about roll into the water and head towards the island fortress. Mikhail used his communicator "All soldiers prepare for incoming armor forces. Flak troopers you may fire when ready, regulars use your cocktails on them." Mikhail never liked calling his soldiers conscripts it just reminded them that they were forced into war. But in a way they all were forced to be here. Those men crossing the river were told by their Emperor to invade it was not of their own will. But no matter why they were there Mikhail would show the Empire the mistake of crossing him and his beloved Union.
Natasha aimed her laser on her sniper rifle at one of the tsunami tanks and a bomber came screeching overhead blowing it up. Mikhail nodded his support for the plan and Oleg contacted him. "They are making landfall on my side of the island but my boys are destroying their transports, the only way for them to go is into our fire."
"The only way for soldiers to go." Mikhail stopped talking and picked up an AK and took out several Imperials of his own as they came running up the beaches. Dasha contacted him again as he reloaded "Sir they are bringing up battleships to the battle as well. We have no naval support for you."
Natasha heard and volunteered, "Sir unlike most of your soldiers I can swim, and I will get close to them and contact the bombers." Mikhail nodded with a hint of admiration for her sense of duty and returned to the window and fired back at an impetuous enemy soldier who almost hit him in the head. He was contacted again by the enemy "You will now see the power of our Shogun Battleships."
After defeating the first waves of infantry and armor he felt more confident now "I hope you don't hold them too dear Imperial the cold Russian waters will keep them." He ended the communication himself this time. "Arrogant Imp." Mikhail reloaded and waited for the next wave to come crashing unto the shores.
Natasha looked at the icy blue water that now was being disgraced by these abominations the enemy call Shogun Battleships. She will show them at what cost an invasion of the motherland would be. She swam through the water and kicked her strong legs frequently to stay afloat while lighting one of the ships up, a bomber squadron came down and unleashed their deadly payloads into the ship making it catch on fire and exploded damaging its fellows in the process.
She could not stop the next larger wave of armor that was landing on the beaches but could definitely destroy their support. Mikhail would have to hold them off himself and form the rockets and gunfire she believed in him in a way she had not for many other officers.
The others in the fleet quickly felt the same fires from Soviet bombers and after several minutes of vicious battle the Empire's naval forces were destroyed. Mikhail contacted Kenji this time and spoke in the little Japanese he learned during the Academy "You lose this time Empire bring word of your defeat to your false god emperor."
"You will regret living through this day, I will return to find you on the battlefield, and be assured it will be with a larger fleet." Those few forces of his that remained quickly fled the city. Mikhail watched them turn tail and run as Dasha contacted him. "Commander you have fought heroically."
Suddenly General Krukov also contacted him "Indeed but perhaps his efforts would have been more useful directed elsewhere, major elements of the Empire's forces are closing in on Moscow itself. While you were hiding behind the barricades a force large enough to besiege Moscow has thrust into the tender nether regions of the Motherland. They will be there in days take what forces are not needed for the garrison of Leningrad and proceed there."
"General our charts show they will be marching through the abandoned satellite facility of Krasna 45." Krukov was silent for a moment clearly forming a strategy in moments "That site will be excellent we must halt their advance, we have reports that they are brining Soviet prisoners of war with them slowing them down. Free our comrades and attack the Empire from all sides. Natasha will be under the command of Commander Moshkiv, he has proven himself more than you but most of your conscripts, Bullfrogs, and Flak troopers will join you. Commander Oleg take an armored division and halt an Imperial advance on Kirov, we must protect our Airship facilities."
All three soldiers saluted their general and went their separate ways for now. Before he left the city one of his soldiers reported. "Sir in the fortress one of our soldiers saw a motor pool of empty sickles should be requisition them?" Mikhail grinned knowing the devastation they can unleash.
Before they left Natasha found him and saluted again "Commander I hope in the coming days we can fight alongside each other again." Normally commanding officers seemed to be there only to get in her way but this young officer let her fight the ways she was born to and supported it. He earned her respect and as he looked on at her with admiration she could tell she has his as well. "Thank you Natasha for your support I hope so as well."