Still don't own Fallout. Please be sure to favorite and follow if you liked it, and review if you have some criticism. I will be a little slow on this story, because I am planning a Skyrim fic. Now onto the show.
Why does my head hurt so much, come to think of it my arm isn't feeling too great either. Wait, I passed out in Alex's arms. Where's Alex! Amata thought to herself as she shot up out of the army cot. A man in winterized camo approached her and saluted "Mam General Chase is waiting in the command tent for a debriefing of your squad. You are to report there as soon as you are able. Your equipment is in the personal trunk at the foot of your cot." When he finished he stood there stock still, not letting his arm out of a salute.
Amata somehow knew what he was waiting for. She threw her feet out of bed and onto the floor before looking at the man "Thank you soldier, dismissed."
"Yes mam." He left to walk out the door, but before he left he turned to her and said "On a personal note mam, what you and your squad did was a hell of a miracle for everyone down here."
Amata felt a little warm inside when he left. Sure she knew it was a simulation, but for some reason it felt good, it felt real.
She didn't spend to long thinking about it. She needed to get to Chase's tent and finish the simulation from there. She put on her combat pants easily enough, but when she moved to put on the jacket and vest she saw a scar on her arm, and remembered how much it hurt. It lead her to another thought on the way to the tent. If being grazed and 'shell shocked' another term she mysteriously knew the meaning of, hurt so much and felt so real, what if me, or Alex, or Gomez get shot, can we die.
The sight of Alex brought her out of her melancholy mood. She ran to embrace him and he did the same. For a few moments the world was theirs. It was interrupted by General Chase who coughed to get their attention.
When he had it, he spoke in a charming yet serious and non flamboyant. "Not very professional soldiers. But given what the hell you all just pulled I can let it slide. That long range artillery forced us to give up quite a bit of ground and men, but with it down we can finally begin to counter attack." He slammed his fist into his palm "The reds are getting reinforcements in the week. If we don't shape up the situation here the reinforcements will be enough to push us back into Canada and from there can reach any section of the northern United States. We will not let that happen."
In a small blue flash three folders appeared in his hand which he gave to each of them. "Colonel Peterson most of the higher ranking officers were killed in a combined artillery and armor strike. You three now have field promotions." He pointed at Gomez "Your job is to get to listening post Bravo and clear it out. To do that you have to go through a Chinese occupied mining town. From their you hit the post and make sure our techies can use the equipment without getting shot." And he gave him folder number one. "You've been given command of the 145th Infantry Battalion. After you capture the post leave a token force their and come back here with a majority of your remaining forces.
He turned to Amata and said "Soldier I know you were hurt, but we need you to carry out this mission." He gave her folder number two "The Chinese are using an old factory to make Chimera tanks. The setup a forward camp approximately half a kilck away. To get to the depot you will need to get through this camp. From there you are to get in to the factory and blow the fuel reserves. You are being given charge of the 45th Recon Company and the 2nd Light Armored Battalion. I would like to note Lieutenant Colonel Montgomery will assist you."
He turned to Alex and gave him the last folder. "You are being given charge of the 4th Brigade. Your job is to push through the trenches and disable the pulse field so we can airdrop T-51b's in the refinery. The generator is located in a bunker on their side of the trenches. Technical Specialist Sargent Morrigan will assist you in identifying the generator."
"Lastly, you two" He pointed at Gomez and Amata. "You will need to worry about Crimson Dragons. I know your familiar with them so I won't rehash it, but if you need a check up look in your folders." He stood up straight "Dismissed!" The three now Colonels saluted, before they could leave General Chase saluted back "Good luck soldiers. God be with you."
Amata and him had another tearful goodbye with him promising to come back to her. They took a moment to pray before the had to split yet again. It's a simulation He thought She might feel pain, but I'm sure she'll be alright. The thought did little to comfort him, but it still did something. He and Gomez shared a handshake which turned into a one armed hug, and promises to come back to help finish the simulation. After the goodbyes which were abnormally painful. Damn, I know it's not real, but it feels real.
He decided to go with standard assault gear, which included 12 frag grenades, an Assault rifle, a 10mm and a trench knife. It seemed like the best option for the trenches. When he left the tent a very dark man of Average height approached him and saluted.
"Sargent Morrigan reporting for duty sir." he said in a relaxed tone. He was clearly not one for formalities but nonetheless waited to be put
"At ease Sargent. The general said you would have more information on the Dead Trenches operation." Alex said while doing a double take of his gear, making sure everything was easily accessible.
"Yes, well us and the rest of our suicidal little battalion have to head into the trenches from the south. It's a relatively small trench. The standard seven feet deep, and a little under 200 miles in total area. But the Reds are bunkered down hard in there. Intel reports say they're keeping the bulk of their forces in the middle sections of the trench. Gives them a bit of mobility in case any valued targets like the tank depot need reinforcements, they can do it without having to get hit by our short range artillery.
We have to act fast, but we also need to give your former squadmate time to reach and disable the listening post. If we go too early it'll be a massacre that puts the Fritz to shame. However if we assault too late your other squadmate assaulting the depot will be slaughtered.
We're at a bit of a disadvantage being a batallion short and all. The reds have a full Brigade made of four battalions plus a battalion of Ruskies. Our brigade is is now three battalions, maybe we'll be reinforced by one while in the trenches, but we can't rely on it being a full battalion.
There's one more thing, I know you thought it couldn't get better. When we get to the trenches I recommend we hold our positions once we have a foothold. The entier trench is within striking distance from their short ranged artillery. If make a slow push they'll probably retreat and have us get shelled. If we can consolidated our forces and make a push we can be out of there and disable the pulse field before too many men are lost to the shells."
"Of course that is just my professional opinion sir" he finished with a bit of sarcasm.
"You have quite the sense of humor Sargent" Alex said in a flat tone.
"What can I say? It's cold out here, all I got is my blanket and charming tongue to keep me warm."
Alex had a small laugh at that before continuing. "Alright, once we're through the trenches how are we going to disable the pulse field?"
"Simple, we know where the generator is. It's a bunker just outside the trench to the north east. We can disable it from there, it will be as simple as flipping a switch. Is that all my illustrious sir" Morrigan said with an exaggerated bow.
"Of course my sarcastic little Sargent, just be sure to mobilize the men. I want to be on the way to the trenches the second the listening post is down.
"Yes sir" The sergeant said before walking off.
Alex spent a few hours in his tent reading a bible. Something he realised he had not done in a long time. Too long for his liking. He was reading the story of Isaiah when the Sagrent entered. Words didn't need to be spoken, Alex knew what time it was, he got his rifle and went out to the APCs to get to the trenches.
If you asked Alex how long the ride was he couldn't tell you. He just knew he was waiting for all hell to break loose. He wasn't disappointed.
Almost as soon as he entered, he had to escape the now upside down APC. He got out of his seatbelt and once he was little centered he helped his fellow soldiers (Morrigan included) out of the troop carrier. Rifles out they ran towards the trenches which were about 50 yards away. The sound of artillery cannons went off without interruption as APCs around them are hit.
The Reds made a firing line at the trench entrance, if American forcer were going to push forward they needed to open up a hole. While Alex's squad was running towards the trenches an APC was hit directly by a shell. It was unlikely anyone survived, but it was an opportunity. Alex ran towards the metallic coffin for cover and peered around the conor, careful to not touch the hot metal. 10 yards from the line I think I could get a few grenades over there. But still it's a bit of a throw. I'll need a few.
Alex then entered the former APC and found something even better than a few grenades, he found a launcher. A soldier from Alex's squad stepped up to grab it. "Sir, I'll cover you and blow open the commie lines"
"Alright" Alex saluted the man "Thank you for your duty soldier"
The soldier returned the salute "It's been my genuine pleasure, now go sir. Kick some commie ass for the rest of us grunts." They left the APC and Alex was waiting for the first grenade to fall. When they heard what sounded like a really loud champagne bottle they knew it was time and charged. Alex, rifle first was the first American in the trench for weeks. Reds on either side of him, becoming aware of the foreign invaders.
Alex simply chose a side and fired while running towards the nearest support beam that gave him slight cover. He fired to his left side and hoped his men would cover his rear. The chinese he fired at were originally caught unaware and fell back to cover. At his rear the rest of his squad entered and the Chinese to his rear also retreated to cover away from the trench perimeter.
This gave US forces the breathing room they needed to get a foothold in the trench, and they invaded in droves. In a about a minute the perimeter wall of the trench was filled with American soldiers. Alex reloaded and moved forward in the trench with Morrigan at his back.
It was easy enough to secure a section of the trenches, most of the chinese forces fell back to the middle of the trench where the majority of their forces were. Now it was a stalemate the Americans didn't want to push too hard to have them to retreat, or to soft that they suspect something.
After half an hour of no significant ground gained or lost. The ranks are as full as they are noticeably going to get, so Alex gave the order to charge. The Chinese didn't expect it, and were pushed back to the edge of the middle ground before they were able keep their defenses and halt the American charge. Alex led the charge, and he didn't think about it, he wasn't thinking. It was like he was watching this from the third person.
A soldier came into the trench from the ground above and Alex raised his rifle and blew three holes in the man's chest. Right after that a Chinese man to his left rushed him with a bayonet raised. Alex raised his rifle to block him, he was able to use his mag to twist both rifles out of their hands. As the rifles fell to the ground Alex pulled out his 10mm and shot him.
Before Alex could retrieve his rifle another Chinese soldier yelled and took aim, but just couldn't squeeze out a shot before his head exploded. To dangerous to get the rifle. I just have to cope. Alex said as he pulled out his knife in his off hand, and charged a Red that had one of his men pinned against a wall. Once the soldier was able to get the dead Red off of him he raised his rifle just past Alex and shot a soldier that was coming after him.
The fight was going well, The US forces were gaining ground quickly, faster than the Chinese could keep setting up defenses. Alex was fighting with knife and pistol, but suddenly his blood lust was broken and he fell back. His left hip was in a limbo between erupting in pain and being almost completely numb. But he couldn't focus on that, he saw a soldier with the Five Gold One Red flag approach him and raise his rifle.
Something was wrong, he pulled his rifle back up and fiddled with the magazine He ran out, Gt him NOW! Alex yelled to himself as he pulled his pistole up and shot the man in the head, (which at this distance wasn't a feat.) Alex threw his knife away as he used his left hand to help himself up. His leg was pulsing but now wasn't the time to worry about it, not with a battle going on. He grabbed a rifle in his left hand and used it as a makeshift cane before continuing his assault with a pistol.
They were reaching the end of the trench, when Morrigan came up beside Alex and told him to follow him, he knew where the bunker was. Alex gave an affirmative nod and followed but at a much slower pace. As Morrigan rounded another corner Alex was hobbling to follow, and before he could make the turn the path before him burst into flames. For that moment he couldn't hear the artillery, the rifles or the men dying around him. All he heard was Morrigan scream. He got to the edge of the wall and waited for the flames to go out. They did in about 15 seconds, almost instanously Alex shot out from the corner and shot the flamethrower. .Thrice. He emptied the whole clip before he knelt down at Morrigan's corpse.
He started a brief prayer before realising What the hell am I doing. This is a simulation, and I need to end it. He got up, but still had a feeling of grief over the now terminated program Morrigan. The rest of the squad almost miraculously appeared behind him as they moved up through the trench. A giant stone dome appeared as they left the trench, a building which Alex assumed was the bunker. Alex ran to the door with the last of his squad mates that survived. The riflemen took position across from him as they went to breach. In an instance the door swung open and Alex aimed his pistol. Four on the left, but the two on the right are ready to shoot. No, no, let the others handle them. Alex aimed to shoot the four on the right, and he succeeded. The other didn't and of them survived and used his rifle to turn Alex's last man to swiss cheese. Alex tuned to shoot the remain soldier, but was not quick enough as his shoulder erupted into pain. He squeezed of one final shot before he fell, the shot hit the man in the chest as he slumped over.
Alex's vision was dimming, but he had to get back to Amata, he wasn't ready to go yet. He had one final thing to do. With all his might he used his left hand to crawl to the control panel. His vision was becoming tunneled as he reached the control panel. With all his might he crawled up and looked for a button. Damn it which one is… is it? THERE his fist slammed down a switch which read PULSE FIELD GENERATOR so hard he might've broken it. As he flipped the switch he fell down, and it all went black. The final words coming from a familiar voice but he couldn't place it.
"Well done soldier. Report to your CO after this. The simulation has been completed and you have been given full access to the Armory. With men like you the US will never fa-" Alex didn't hear the rest, it all went black.
TBC or IS IT!? (It Isn't, I don't like leaving things half finished)
Am I bad guy for ending the chapter there. Sorry about the short Chapter but I wanted to wrap up Anchorage. Hope you liked it and as always please be sure to favorite and follow if you liked it, and leave a review or PM me if see something I could improve on. 'See you next time(So to speak)'
