Chapter 6
Kloden Forest
With Gallia pressing its advantage, Squad 7 was tasked to take the desert. Along the way, they have also been ordered to find Squad 17 and report on their current condition, since no word was heard of them ever since they've went to go on their mission. When they found the squad's ambush spot, they were all surprised by the carnage the small group have wrought. Wreckage and strewn parts littered the road with craters blown into the ground, the squad immediately wondering where did the bodies go, but they got their answer when they saw the pile of limbs and corpses on the side of road, the stench of death and rot permeating the air, with a couple of them relieving their lunch on the nearby trees. What caught their attention though is the sound of an engine starting up in the distance. The squad moved up to the sound and was surprised by what they saw.
"Finally, we've been waiting for you guys to show up for so long, I thought you guys forgot about us." Mike shouted and waved to them while standing on top of the former general's tank. In the last few hours, Squad 7 have managed to scavenge enough parts from the wreckage to get Bertha in working condition, pile up all the bodies they can find, and gather weapons and ammo. Mason, Tanya, and Jake also woke up from their injuries a while back.
"We wouldn't forget about you guys." Vargo replied.
"Still though, what happened here? Ever since we separated, we've lost contact with your squad for a good while." Welkin said and looked to Mason for an explanation. Mason waved him off.
"Don't look at me; I've been knocked out for the most of it." Mason replied.
"We'll answer your question though comrade Lieutenant." Anna said. The squad (except Don) told the whole of Squad 7 what happened, from start to end. From the first detonation to the ramming of the Lupus, each member conscious through it all told their own point of views.
"Still though, why didn't you call us during the fight? We could have rushed to you guys with whatever support you needed." Alicia questioned them.
"We tried to contact you guys, but we couldn't; Bertha's radio can't pick up a signal." Dina answered.
"That can explain why we can't make contact with you. Still though, I can't believe you actually took out a force of this size all by yourselves, with an Imperial General too." Isara replied. Both squads went silent at the bomb she just unknowingly dropped. All of them looked at her intensely. Under the spotlight, Isara got nervous.
"Umm…why are you all looking at me?" Isara asked nervously.
"Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait…wait, you're saying that this tank.." Tanya pointed to the tank. "..belongs to a general?".
Isara nodded. "By the looks of it, this must be General Jaeger's personal tank, the Lupus." The men and women of both squads were surprised from Isara's response.
"Is that true Isara? Is this really General Jaeger's tank?" Alicia replied. Isara nodded.
"Yes. I am pretty sure that tank is General Jaeger's personal tank."
"How sure are you?" Welkin asked.
"Well, when I first joined up to be your driver, the army introduced me to any vehicle that our troops might encounter and any intel that they might have on them. Judging by the unique body and the size of its gun, I can confirm that this is really General Jaeger's tank." Isara explained.
"So you mean to tell all of us that these guys…" Rosie pointed to Squad 17. "…and them only took out an Imp General and his armed convoy, all by themselves?" Rosie asked. Isara, now realizing the gravity of what just happened, just simply nodded. If anyone of them in Squad 7 doubted them before, they sure as hell don't now. Here is a group, standing right in front of them, conquer a bigger and more better equipped foe, with only what equipment and guts they have.
"Hey! You guys are finally here!" Don shouted to them, just returning from his scouting venture. He ran to them and when he got there, he immediately felt the situation.
"So, anything I missed while I was gone?" Anna just simply stood up and made him sit down.
"You might want to sit down for this." Don can only shrug, not knowing what he and the rest of his squad have achieved.
