Fullmetal Alchemist
EUROPA WAR II
Chapter 5
OPERATION CLOUDBURST
Opening Theme: Melissa (Fullmetal Alchemist)
Vine sat quietly on the bank, observing the opposite shore. Welkin had been observing the river for hours, but Vine had no idea what he was looking for. Alicia and Isara had both left a couple of hours earlier to perform tasks Welkin had given them. "Good," Welkin said as he finally walked away from the river, "I gave us 48 hours, but at this rate, we might only need until morning."
"How do you figure?" Vine asked, surprised that Welkin's already seemingly impossible time table had just gotten even more impossible.
"I already founded what I was looking for, and I was honestly only giving us the second day to make sure we'd have at least two shots to get the conditions we needed," Welkin revealed, "but look at that," he ordered pointing at the river. Vine looked out and saw a bird flying low over the water.
"What about it?" Vine asked.
"That's a Gallian Blue Sparrow," Welkin revealed, "birds are incredibly in tune with nature, so much so in fact, that they can predict the weather far more efficiently then we can. That sparrow is searching for fish, because it knows it won't be able to find food in the morning for its breakfast."
"Huh?" Vine replied, "ya lost me."
"The reason it won't be able to find food in the morning is because it won't be able to see the river. It knows that there's going to be an early morning fog in the morning that's going to hide the river from view," Welkin revealed.
"I get it now," Vine realized, "if the river is covered in fog, then the Imps won't even see us coming. Good call, but it does have one problem. Sure, we can boat the soldiers across, but how're you gonna solve the tank problem. Hate to say it, but I can only do so much when it comes to handling tanks."
"I've got that under control," Welkin replied, "make sure to get plenty of rest tonight though. It's going to be an early morning."
"Great, my favorite kind," Vine sighed sarcastically.
….
The next morning, bright and early, the sevens were all gathered on the river bank. Just as Welkin had predicted, an early morning fog had rolled in, completely hiding the river from view.
"What's all this about boss-man," Largo asked grumpily, yawning loudly.
"We're about to commence with the operation," Welkin replied, "is everyone here?"
"Whoa, hold on, bud," Rosie protested, "what do you mean we're about to commence the operation? You're not really planning on taking on that bridgehead with one squad? I don't think military benefits apply to suicides."
"I didn't say anything about taking on the bridgehead, Rosie," Welkin declared, "we're gonna take on the river."
"The river? Are you crazy? How're you planning on getting a tank across this river? Sure, we might be able to float a few foot soldiers across, but without tank support, they ain't gonna be able to get much done," Largo declared.
"I'd hate to agree with the giant on this, but he's not wrong. Handling 4 tanks is about my limit, and if our information is reliable, there are a lot more than 4 tanks over there. By the way, military information is rarely reliable, so I'm gonna go out on a limb and say there are probably even more tanks over there then we think there are," Vine declared.
"It'll be fine," Welkin declared, "we'll have a tank, right Isara?"
"I finished the last modifications to the Edelweiss earlier this morning," Isara replied, "it should be able to last about five minutes once it goes under."
"Thanks Is," Welkin replied, "sorry for making you pull an all nighter right before a big mission."
"Tank pilot's gonna be asleep at the wheel," Vine sighed as the sleepy looking Isara elbowed him, "ow, what do you mean once it goes under, though?"
"What else," Welkin replied, "we're taking the Edelweiss through the river."
"You're crazy," Largo declared, "even if the kids modifications work, this river is deep enough for cargo ships to sail through. You take a tank to the bottom, and you'll never see it again."
"Not if we cross at the right spot," Welkin revealed, "which is right here." Welkin pointed directly behind him at some plants growing in the center of the river, "anyone know what that plant is?"
"Uhh… I failed biology in high school," Vine declared, "just tell us."
"It's called Mistlereed," Welkin revealed, "and it only grows in places where the river is extremely shallow. If we drive the tank through here, we'll be able to ford without any problem."
"You're kidding," Largo declared.
"You know this plan sounds insane, right?" Vine asked, "I like it, let's do it."
"You're kidding, right. The stinkin' Dark Hair approves, ah we really are gonna die," Rosie groaned, annoying Vine. His annoyed look, however, was soon replaced with a mischievous grin as he looked between Rosie and the river, which she was standing pretty close to.
"Whatever you're thinking, stop thinking it," Isara ordered.
"I don't know what you mean," Vine replied, "though now that Rosie mentions it, I do smell something."
"Huh? What do you mean you smell something?" Rosie replied as Vine walked over towards her.
"Yipes, Rosie, what's wrong, didn't have time to shower this morning?" Vine asked, holding his nose as he walked over next to the shocktrooper, "here let me help you with that." Before anyone could react, Vine pushed Rosie, causing her to topple back into the river. Oscar, Emille, Aisha, and Edy all burst out laughing as Isara shook her head in dismay. Welkin looked a little surprised by what had happened while Alicia looked like she was about to have a heart attack.
"Vine!" Alicia shouted, "I can't believe you just did that!"
"I can," Vine replied as Rosie burst out of the river.
"Why you little…" Rosie shouted as she charged out of the water and after Vine who scurried away as quickly as he could, "that does it! Come back here! When I catch you I'm gonna snap your neck!" By this point, most of the squad had burst out laughing.
"Welkin, aren't you going to say something!?" Alicia pleaded.
"Why? Look how much those two are boosting morale," Welkin replied, "besides, it's better they settle this here then wait until we're mid-operation, right?"
"But they're part of your squad! Shouldn't you at least try to get them under control!?" Alicia replied in a scolding tone. She was interrupted as Vine dashed past her. Rosie soon followed, bumping against Alicia as she did. Vine and Rosie both stopped cold when they heard a loud splash. They looked back to discover a very irate looking Alicia sitting in the shallow water.
"I'd like to take this opportunity to point out that that wasn't my fault," Vine declared as Rosie glared at him angrily.
"Okay, well, I think it's time to start the operation," Welkin declared, smiling nervously as Alicia crawled out of the river.
"Oh sure, now it's time to begin the operation," Alicia hissed irately, causing Welkin to laugh nervously.
"I think our C.O.s are having a lover's quarrel," Vine whispered to Emille and Oscar, who both just nodded in agreement.
….
On the opposite bank, two Imperial soldiers stood guard, watching the river.
"Man, how'd we get stuck with this job?" one of the soldiers complained, "it's not like anyone's gonna try to cross the river in this mess."
"Keep quiet and keep your eyes peeled, we have a job to do," the other soldier ordered.
"Yes sir," the first man groaned in reply as he walked back to the river. Just then, something small began to emerge from the water that looked like a radio antenna. "What is that?" He got his answer as the Edelweiss suddenly burst out of the water, bowling over the man as it did. The second man reached for his radio, but was unable to reach it as he was quickly taken out by machine gun fire from the Edelweiss. The hatch opened and Welkin poked his head out and looked around. When he was convinced the area was secure, he pulled out a flare gun and pointed it into the air.
"The Edelweiss swims just fine," he declared proudly, "fall in Sevens." He fired a flare up into the air which was visible from the other shore where the sevens were waiting in boats.
"Show time," Vine declared as the sevens began their trek across the river.
In only a few minutes, the sevens were across and the operation was ready to begin.
"Alright, everyone remember your jobs," Alicia ordered, "Largo, your team protect the boats and wait for the prisoners. The rest of us will distract the Imperials. Vine, do what you do best."
"Rescue op, got it," Vine declared, "heigh ho, heigh ho, it's off to work I go," he whistled as he darted off between some buildings.
"Alright, let's make sure the Imperials don't figure out that this is a rescue operation," Welkin ordered, "and let's retake the bridge! Squad 7, move out!"
….
Up on a building top, and Imperial Sniper stood, watching the town square below. He didn't notice a strong rope being wrapped around his leg until it was suddenly pulled tight. He yelped with fright as a hand reached over the edge of the roof and pulled him off of it. Fortunately, his fall was stopped by the rope tied around his leg, but his rifle wasn't so lucky as it fell ten stories to the pavement below. Vine pulled himself onto the roof, leaving the man dangling. "Sorry about that, do me a favor and just 'hang out' for a bit," Vine said waving down to the panicking sniper. "Not that funny, huh? Yeah, I know, I need some new material. Now, why don't you do me a favor and tell me where you're hiding the prisoners from the town. You tell me, and I won't let you fall on your head."
"C… center of town. They're being held in a building in the center of town," the man revealed, "please pull me up!"
"Oh fine, but only because you said please," Vine replied as he pulled the sniper back up to the roof. A minute later, Vine had left the bound and gagged sniper on the roof while he made his way towards the town center. When he arrived, he discovered a large building that had three armed guards standing in front of it.
"If I were a betting man," he whispered, "I'd wager that the prisoners are in there. Now, how do I get inside without alearting any unfriendlies that I'm here." Thinking for a second, he suddenly let a mischievous grin cross his face.
"What do you think, do we have anything to worry about?" one of the soldiers asked his two comrades.
"You kidding? Even if Gallia did make it across the bridge before our transport gets here, they're hardly gonna be trying to rescue some Dark Hairs," the second man replied.
"Hey," a fourth soldier shouted as he ran up to the group, "bad news, the Militia made it across the bridge and they're heading this way! The commander wants to see you three on the double, I'll keep watch here until you get back.
"The commander? Ah man, how'd they get across so quick?" one of the men demanded.
"We don't know, but they didn't cross the bridge," the 4th soldier replied.
"You two go see what's going on," the third man ordered, "I'll stay here and help keep an eye on things."
"Got it," the other two replied as they took off. When they were gone, the 4th soldier snuck behind the remaining one and struck him in the back of the neck, instantly knocking him unconscious.
Inside a room in the building, several dozen Darcsen prisoners huddled in the center of the room while five armed men stood around them.
"Now listen good, you dark hairs keep real quiet. Any of you that makes a peep won't have to worry about getting sent to Fouzen," the man declared as the door opened and another Imperial soldier walked in.
"Hey, what's going on?" another soldier ordered the man who had just entered.
"The militia's attacking. They're trying to liberate the prisoners," the soldier replied.
"After the prisoners? Fools. Well, they won't be succeeding," the first soldier declared, "execute them all."
"Yes sir," the other 4 men replied coldly as they rose their weapons. Before they could begin to fire, however, they were all knocked unconscious by flashes of red light. The 5th man looked up in dismay as a blast slammed into him, knocking him down as well. The man who had entered the room removed his helmet, to reveal that he was Vine.
"To late boys, the militia are already here," Vine declared as the prisoners slowly began to rise and look around at what had happened. "No time for gawking, we need to move," Vine ordered, "we've got boats waiting on the south side of the bridge that'll take you over to the west side of the city. We need to get to them, quickly. Now follow me and don't get separated." When he was convinced they all understood what he was telling them to do, they left the building and made their way back to Largo's group and the boats.
….
"I don't believe it, you actually pulled it off," Largo declared as the prisoners arrived at where he and a few other sevens were protecting the ships.
"What do you mean you don't believe it. When are you gonna stop doubting me?" Vine replied teasingly as he joined the lancer, "how're the others holding up."
"Good, we caught the Imps napping and the bridge team hasn't even begun to move yet. At this rate, we'll have the entire city back in Gallian hands in a couple of hours," Largo replied.
"Sounds like good news to me," Vine replied, "so, shall we join 'em?"
"Yeah," Largo declared, "I'll have a few guys go with the boats to row the prisoners to the other side."
"Got it, I'll see the rest of you on the battlefield," Vine replied as he left to join the combat.
….
The littered remains of imperial tanks and bodies told Vine quickly that Largo was right. It looked like the battle was going quite well.
"Yeesh, at this rate, maybe I don't need to join 'em. I'm probably not even gonna…" he said to himself. His thoughts were interrupted when he heard a woman scream. "Oops, me and my big mouth."
In a street not far from where Vine was, Squad 7 Scout, Susie Evans, a cute young woman whose long brown hair was tied in two pony tails that hung over the front of her shoulders. Huddled with her back against a low wall as five Imperial Shocktroopers moved down the street towards her.
"Come out, princess," one of 'em taunted, "we aren't gonna hurt you, much."
"We just wanna have a little fun," another shocktrooper declared. Susie was trying desperately not to make a sound as tears poured from her eyes. The men were going to find her any second now.
"Susie!" she heard a voice shout suddenly. She looked up to see Vine charging towards her and her assailants.
"Vine!" she shouted as Vine dashed past her and roared onto the offensive against the five men.
….
At the enemy command post, Welkin and Isara stood outside the Edelweiss as Squad 7 finished securing the bridge. The operation had been a success, and best of all, it looked like the squad had suffered any serious injuries. Just then, Largo's team arrived. "Looks like we were a little late to the party," Largo declared as he joined the remaining Sevens.
"Looks that way," Rosie replied, "looks like we all got through alive, somehow."
"The alchemist was able to pull off his rescue. The Darcsen prisoners are all safely back in Gallian territory," Largo declared.
"Good for them," Rosie declared, though it was obvious she didn't care.
"Speakin' of the alchemist, where is he? He left before my group did to come here," Largo asked.
"Hey," Alicia shouted suddenly as she joined them, "have either of you seen Susie anywhere?"
"I wouldn't know. It isn't my responsibility to keep an eye on everyone," Rosie replied.
"I hope she's alright," Edy declared as she joined Alicia, "I haven't seen her for a while either, and you know how she is."
"Oh, I'm sure she's fine," a voice suddenly shouted from behind them causing them to look back. Vine was staggering towards the group, carrying an unconscious Susie on his back.
"Susie!" Alicia shouted as both she and Edy ran to help Vine.
"She'll be alright," Vine declared as he kneeled down and allowed Edy to be lifted off of his shoulders, "she just fainted from all the excitement."
"Fainted huh?" Rosie asked as Vine walked past her and she glanced over Susie, noticing that the front of her militia uniform was covered with blood. "Hey! You said she was alright, so why is she covered… with blood?" Rosie began to shout, but stuttered when she looked back at Vine, who had stopped walking and looked like he was struggling just to stand. He was standing in a small pool of blood himself. Finally, his legs strength gave out, and the alchemist fall flat on his face and lay completely still.
Ending Theme: Heart of Sword (Rurouni Kenshin)
