Chapter 28
FOY
December 30
Bastogne Outskirt
0443 hours
Nothing could be so peaceful without another attack on the city of Bastogne. The siege had been broken days before and the enemy forces have been pushed back all the way they came from. Mainly the paratroopers can't wait to get back to Moremelon for an R and R but their division commander came back from a visit in Canterlot and, as it turn out, order his division to switch back to offense mode and attack whatever they lost at the start of the campaign.
To the paratroopers, this is not fair because they've been fighting long and hard to defend Bastogne and now they been given another mission to carry out?
Sometimes, people can be really stupid when they look forward to it.
At the 506th section of the perimeter, 3rd squad had got an order to pack up and move out. Of course none of them complain about this but they were feeling kind of lonely when more people left the squad.
There are now only ten of them left out of the original thirteen when they first arrived here.
"I just don't get it," says Spike after hearing the news about the order and Twilight's promotion, "We still has to fight while many of us are simply gone for the heck of it. Marsh's gone. Friar's gone. Peter's gone. And now Twilight's gone. What will happen to us? Are we're going to be like them?"
Before he could say anything else, he was slap in the face by LaRoach who said to him, "Get yourself together, man! We are not gonna die. I'm not going to risk myself getting snipe in the back of the head while you continue to cry yourself out. We must learn to stick together and forget the past!"
"Actually, Spike here is right." Applejack exclaimed after Spike pulls himself together. "Twilight is gone so now who is going to be Red second-in-command?"
"Obviously, it's going to be you, Applejack." Says Rarity, pointing at her. "Saying how you are the third highest ranking corporal around here."
Rainbow who is sitting on a crate next to them roll her eyes when she heard this and watch the constant booming from the distance.
Applejack nodded to Rarity remark. "Huh. I guess yer right. Ah am the third highest ranking here in this squad. I haven't thought of that. But who the hay will lead Twilight team while she'd gone?"
"Nobody." Said Red as he walk toward them and pointed toward LaRoach standing next to Pinkie and Spike. "LaRoach is the only person left on the team and there is no one else beside him. He could be put into great use for Jasper's team. Friar's dead and Jasper is going to need another person to keep the bazooka going."
LaRoach nodded in agreement, "I suppose you're right."
He walk over to Jasper and Jasper said to him, "Hi buddy!"
"Shut the hell up!" LaRoach snapped at him so Jasper replied with a sad face, "Okay."
A few hour later, the entire 506th have been given its objectives and are starting to pull out of Bastogne to head north. 3rd Battalion was sent to the northeast to capture the city of Foy, which lies on the intersection between the rest of the mountains and Bastogne.
As they were leaving the outskirt of the city of Bastogne, Red look back at the city and thought of all the hell he and everyone has been through. They had lost a lot of good soldiers there and they've been out to the test to survive as long as they could stay together.
They have survive hell, but there are more to come.
The squad set up positions outside the city of Foy inside the forest and waited for the signal from HQ to attack.
As they were setting up, Red had a special announcement, "Alright, listen up so I don't have to repeat myself." He waited till everyone gather around him then begin, "I hate to say this but here we go; Being a highest-ranking officer here, I've been told to stay behind and observe the battle because the high brass are coming here to watch the show. Not only that but I've been also told to pick one of you to be acting squad leader for both 2nd and 3rd squad. Now, the pony that will be leading them," he turn to Rainbow, "is you Rainbow Dash."
Rainbow snort at this then said to him, "You're serious right?"
Red face was dead serious as he said to her, "Does it look like I'm joking?"
Rainbow face lost the smile and she crisply said, "Yes sir, I will do my best, sir."
"Well, that is all I'm going to say." Red said then walk away, soon follow by Applejack.
When she reaches to his side, she said to him with an expression shown on her face, "Are you sure it was a good idea to pick Rainbow for the job?"
"You'll see." Red replied which makes Applejack stopped on her track and frown. What does he means you'll see?
Later in the day around 0550 hours, another announcement was given, this time was special.
"What do you mean by 'special', darling?" Rarity asked as soon as she heard the new form Red. "The brass coming directly here from Canterlot?"
Red sighted then nodded. "Yeah."
Jasper couldn't understand this then asked whoever around him, "Wait, why the hell could some commander would come here when it still hot?"
Before any of them could answer for him, a voice boom behind them, "We are here only for the troops."
They all turn around at the same time and discover that voice belong to Princess Celestia.
The princess is wearing an olive drab army issue combat uniform and a steel helmet. Standing side by side with her is Princess Luna and Cadence who are also wearing the same concept as Celestia. There are also Generals and Field Marshals around them but they seem to be more caution about the fighting around them.
Before any of the ponies could move, Celestia continue, "May I also say that I am here to see my little ponies?"
All of the soldiers, except for LaRoach and Jasper, bow to the ground then smiled as their Highnesses came to see them.
Rarity, who almost fainted when she first saw them, exclaimed with delight, "Oh my! It was a pleasure to see you all here. We are about to begin taking this town."
"Indeed." Luna nodded, "Which is why we are here in the first place until we, what do you say, pay a little visit to those that we last saw a few months ago?"
"Well, your letters did kept us together, your highness." Applejack chuckle.
Next to Luna, Cadence look around her with a worried look then said to them, "May I ask, where is Twilight?"
It took the two sisters to realize that their former student is nowhere to be seen.
In reply to Twilight's whereabouts, Applejack took off her hat and put in front of her chest as she said to them, "For much of your concern, Twilight… is still in Bastogne, for as much as we knew of."
"What for? Is she hurt?" said Celestia, alarmed.
Before Applejack could answer, Pinkie exclaimed for her, "Of course not, she's getting her promotion!"
The three princesses sighted with relief.
"Oh, I thought the worse." Cadence said, glad that Twilight is alright, not as much as they knew of.
"That is a wonderful new," Celestia exclaimed. "I did heard from your regimental commander and Shining Armor that Twilight is getting her promotion to Sergeant."
"Really?" Pinkie asked who is now confused. "The last I heard is that Twilight is in the hospital because she nearly died when a building collapse on her."
When they heard this, the three princess's faces grew grim. Bug the silence was quickly broken when Applejack hit Pinkie in the shoulder and quickly say with a laugh, "Ooh, what a catch. That Pinkie alright. She just got the wind knock out of her which really gotten her to say random stuff, am I'm right, ya'll?" she look at her squad mates to back her up and they all let out a weak laugh and said something like; "Yeah, you got it." Or "We all grew stupid for the past hour." Or even "Why is everyone turning white?"
After an awkward silence between the squad and the princesses, Rainbow look at her watch then said out loud, "It's almost time. We got to be ready if we really want to take this town." She turned and went to where 2nd squad is who are talking to each other and checking their weapons as to get ready for an upcoming battle.
There are only five soldiers out of the original thirteen that started right before Bastogne. Seven of them were killed during the siege while the eight, Peter, is wounded.
Corrion, one of the survivors of 2nd squad, have been acting squad leader when Peter was hit. Corrion is one of the few veterans who survived through the Canterlot campaign and the Highland. With a scar that crossed on the said of his face, he have been obviously been one of the toughest trooper in the outfit.
When Rainbow reaches them, they all stopped talking as Rainbow stop in front of them and said to them, "Alright you guys, I've been put here in charge of you guys to lead on taking this town. Most of you don't know me well but I'm pretty sure I'll get you out of this alive. Let's all try our best and be awesome as we can so we could get out of this mess, hoorah?"
They all said, "Hoorah" in unison after Rainbow and went back to their business, this time they were delighted to have someone to lead them.
After giving out the speech, Rainbow asks the name of the squad so she could call out their names during combat.
Corporal Corrion is the leader of the squad, also for the Assault team leader. Gray-eye and blue coat, he's still consider everyone favorite acting squad leader.
Private First Class Mark is part of Corrion Assault team and another one of the veterans that was in the squad. Mark have yellow eyes and tan coat but was often mistaken as an earth pony when reality, he's actually a unicorn even though his fur coat cover his horn.
PFC Paige had recently joined the squad during the Highland operation and have been the leader of the Fire team ever since the old one was killed during the attack on Hell's Highway. A Pegasus and have blue-eyes and a white colored coat and mane, he could easily blend into the snow without being seen, literally.
The squad only survivor for their machine gun team is Private Jones, who like manning a 50. Cal machine gun than a regular SAW. He have brown-eyes and a dark-colored spot on his grayish coat because he like to see things blow up before him just like Jasper's.
The last member of the squad is Private Jason, who's just arrived in the area shortly after the siege been broken. With his greenish-eyes and red coat, he is the youngest squad member at the age of fifteen.
When Rainbow first laid eye on him, it struck her with an image of Angel whom she failed to protect. Jason look a lot like him so now Rainbow set herself a goal to try and protect him at least once she could prove to Red that she could lead and not get anyone killed under her command, which Red had done.
She could probably one day be a squad leader for 3rd squad.
The plan for taking Foy seem to be a challenging one. The attack start at 0660 hours and when it does, troopers from the E Company has to rush across a field to get to the west side of town. Then, they have to fight their way through and link up with I Company that are coming from the southeast. Once the linkup is complete, they will go and secure the rest of town.
While waiting for the attack to start, Red went over to where Applejack is and told her that she, Pinkie, Fluttershy and Spike to standby.
"Why do I have to stay here?" Applejack asked after Red told her.
"In case Rainbow failed." Rd replied then walk away from her to join the high brass next to the tree-line.
Applejack was confused at first but then now she knew what he's meant.
At precisely 0600, the forward line of the tree-line was covered in smoke from smoke canisters and rushes of paratrooper's dashes through the smoke and across the field.
While Red, Applejack, Pinkie, Fluttershy and Spike are standing by, the rest of 3rd squad and all of 3rd platoon were crossing the field when suddenly, they were met by hail of mortar fires and machine gun fire from a house in front of them.
Two ponies were hit as they took cover behind a stack of hays in front of the enemy-occupied house.
As they were pinned down, Rainbow order Jasper to take a shot at the machine gun next with his bazooka.
Jasper shook his head. "I can't!" he yelled, "There's too much firing around me to knock it out!"
"We can't stay here! We need to move!" Rainbow shouted back then said to Corrion next to him, "Get behind that wagon over there and put some fire on them!"
By now, they are receiving intense rifle fire from another house and three more ponies are hit. Corrion led Mark and Jason to the wagon and use it as cover. When they got behind it, the enemy machine gun fire at the wagon, forcing the three ponies behind it heads down.
After watching them get pinned down behind cover, Rainbow was unable to do anything as ponies are getting hit around her. This is much like the same thing back at Carentan but instead of being in a ditch, they are behind some hays that can't stop bullets. For the most part, they are screwed.
While watching the carnage from the tree-line, Red was urging Rainbow to move on but when he saw her not doing anything, he turn to a radioman next to him and tell him to get him on the phone to the troopers upfront.
Back behind cover, Rainbow thought of falling back so she yelled at everyone to fall back behind her. She got up and rushes toward the wagon under suppressing that she order to get those to fall back.
Corrion and Mark went back to the hay while Jason fired at the house to provide them cover. When they got to safely, Rainbow turn and noticed that Jason is not firing anymore.
"Come on, kid! We got to move!" Rainbow said to him and patted him on the shoulder. As soon as she patted him, Jason's head fell back, revealing that he have been shot between the eyes.
Rainbow went wide-eye then quickly hurried back to where the other are at. There are already activity going on when she got there. Beside fear, there is chaos when ponies are trying to figure out what to do next. Almost all of them are yelling at Rainbow for orders.
"Rainbow, we're pinned down and our flank is going to fold. What now?" said Rarity, holding on to her helmet from the explosions around her.
Beside Rarity, Paige is holding a radio phone while yelling at Rainbow, "Rainbow! Red is asking you to give out orders and get a move on!"
With all of these ponies screaming at her, Rainbow covered her ears with her hooves then scream loudly as she can into the air.
When he heard Rainbow's scream back at the tree-line, Red scream, "Damn it!" and tried to rush toward the pinned down soldiers so he, himself, could get them moving.
When he was about three feet from the base of the tree-line, Celestia was yelling at him to get back to where he was before he took off.
"Red!" she yelled, almost walking out of the tree-line, "get back over here this instant! You are not permitted to go out there! You are a high ranking officer and have been ordered to stay out of this battle!"
"Then a princess shouldn't be out here where she could get shot!" Red snapped back and walk back toward the tree-line.
Not wanting to see his troop pinned down any longer, Red shouted at his team to get going then turned to Applejack next to him, "Applejack, take Pinkie, Spike, Fluttershy and the mortar team and get over there now! Take command from Rainbow and get that line moving!"
Applejack nodded and mention those that Red ordered to follow her. Together, they rushes out into the field to support their pinned down comrades. Luckily, they made it through the hail of fire unscathed and got behind cover.
Applejack got to where Rainbow is frozen at and shouted at her, "Rainbow! You got to snap out of it! I'm taking over, okay?"
Rainbow didn't say anything. She was just staring into space like nothing is happening.
Applejack saw this and grunted angrily then order the mortar team to lob a round at the house where the machine gun is located. They quickly set their mortar tube and, without the base, put the mortar round in and launched it at the machine gun and the whole thing exploded.
When the machine gun is out of action, Applejack got up and waved, "Let's go ya'll!" then rush into town, follow by other, leaving Fluttershy behind to stay with Rainbow who is now shell-shocked.
The inside of town is a lot worse than the outside. The paratroopers has almost got to the center of the city when they got under fire from Moratins of all types.
Taking cover behind a wall next to a house, Jasper fired his bazooka at a pair of Moratins manning a 20mm flak gun when he noticed more paratroopers coming in from the southeast of the other side of the Moratin defenses.
"Isn't that I Company?" Jasper asked Discord next to him who then replied back with a shrug, "I believe they are. I think it seem that they're having trouble getting through. Somepony need to get over there and help them."
After listening to Discord, Spike put down his pistol, got up and ran as fast as he can toward I Company, by going through the Moratin defenses.
"Spike, come back!" his friends yelled but he chose to ignore them and focus on getting to the other side alive without getting himself shot.
He ran past the town water fountain, run right between a pair of Moratins who are reloading another flak gun. They were surprised when a baby dragon ran by so they turn their gun at him.
Spike pretty much shaken the enemy defenses when he got to I Company positions.
After telling them the information they needed, again Spike got up and went back the way he came. When they finish turning their flak gun around, the Moratins was about to aim and fire when Spike ran past them again, which they need to turn around again in order to shoot him.
Spike runs past the water fountain and eventually got back to his squad position.
"Are you crazy?" LaRoach exclaimed when Spike got back to cover. "You've get killed by doing that stupid shit!"
"Hey, a dragon gonna do what a dragon gonna do." Spike said and pick up his gun to continue the fight.
With the help from Spike, I Company, begin to shift their fire toward the Moratin defenses. The paratroopers reach the center and start taking out any resistance.
At one point, LaRoach rushes up to a store where is couple of Moratins is hiding at and toss a grenade through the window. After the explosion inside the store, he and Jasper walk in to check for survivors. Not only that all of the Moratins inside are dead, they discovered barrels of wine in the back all blown to bits.
"Goddamn it, LaRoach," Jasper said after seeing the destroyed wine, "You have to chuck a grenade in here."
LaRoach kicked a bottle to the back and said to Jasper, "It was just to keep you from getting drunk." Then walk away.
A few hours later, the town is finally secured. After seeing the high brass leave the area, Red went into Foy to congratulate Applejack on successfully leading the attack into Foy.
"I know you can do it." Said Red after meeting with Applejack next to a destroyed building.
"I thought so too." Applejack said quietly, looking over her shoulder to see Rainbow sitting in a driver on a jeep.
Standing inside a sphere on top of a church, LaRoach, Jasper, Pinkie, Rarity and Spike are watching soldiers cheering below.
"Does this called for a celebration?" Pinkie said to those around her with excitement.
"What are you talking about?" says Jasper next to her, pointing at LaRoach who is standing next to the sphere railing with his back facing the town, "This idiot here lobbed a grenade into the town only liquor."
LaRoach took a drag from his cigarette then said to Jasper, "What do you mean? I did us a favor." Right when he finish his sentence, LaRoach head jerked forward when a sniper bullet enter through the back of his head and exit through his forehead, spraying blood on his friends. His helmet flew off when he took a hit and everyone stood frozen in place.
When a last bit of life, LaRoach stumble forward a bit then fell backward over the railing.
"LaRoach!" Jasper screamed and watches in horror as LaRoach fell out of the sphere.
As soon as it happened, the other hit the floor to take cover, all of them were shocked.
"Where did that came from?" Rarity asked.
"Sniper. It came before we could hear the shot." Spike said to her with his eyes filled with excitement.
Inside one of the houses that faces the center of town, a Moratin sniper watches his target fall out of the sphere, cocked his rifle to eject an empty cartridge, insert a new one and cocked his rifle again to insert the bullet into the chamber and fire at an unfortunate soldier sitting on a jeep…
After she saw LaRoach fall out of the sphere, Applejack dove to cover behind a building when Red screamed, "Sniper!"
Applejack quickly looks around the center, hoping to find the sniper's location. After the second shot was fired, Applejack finally located the sniper whereabouts'. And so does Red.
"Applejack! Gives me some covering fire now!" Red shouted then run toward the house where the sniper is at.
Instead of using her machine gun, Applejack took out Rainbow sniper rifle and, with cool aim, fired at the sniper. The bullet went and struck the sniper in the forehead.
When he got to the front of the house, Red saw the sniper get hit then sighted in relief. All the soldiers that dove to cover after the first shot came out of covers and begin to start searching the town for any more snipers.
After the incident, Red yelled for his squad to fall in. "Is everyone alright?" he asked once everyone got together."
"They got LaRoach." Jasper said with tears in his eyes.
To break the moment of silence, Applejack said with an alarmed voice, "Where's Rainbow Dash?"
Red look around and spotted Rainbow laying on the jeep with her head down. That second shot got her in the side of her chest but she's still alive.
"Aw shit…" Red muttered then screamed, "Rainbow!" and ran toward her.
Using the jeep they got from Foy, Red, Applejack and Fluttershy sped down the snowy road with Rainbow laying on the hood of the jeep toward an aid station on Bastogne. They quickly got there in no time and, as they pulled up beside the aid station, the regimental doctor, Gideon ran outside to meet them.
He gasped when he saw Rainbow on the jeep. "How long have she been out?" he asked Red when they got Rainbow down on a stretcher and got her inside the aid station.
"A couple of minute. Maybe more." Red replied with a worry look on his face.
They put her on an operating table when Gideon finally said, "I'll see what I can do."
Leaving Rainbow back at the aid station is hard to maintain as the three friends went back on the jeep and start heading back to Foy.
Losing two more ponies in one day is hard for Red. Especially Rainbow.
Christ, how many people do Red have to lose for this damn war to end?