Major General Voss stepped out of his command truck as he placed his gaze upon the teleporter. Scientists from Berlin were here to change the tide of the war in Germany's favor with the technology they have developed. If this machine worked as theorized, it would be a marvel. German infantry could harass the Allies behind their lines before their commander even knew. However, it's time was rather lacking. Had this technology come just before the Ardennes Offensive, the sheer amount of failures would have been averted and manpower could have been saved sending the British and the Americans out to the sea.
He held his hands behind his back watching as the teams of scientists plugged their wires onto this strange metallic platform they had brought from the heart of Germany. Voss heard about rumors that the materials for the platform was stronger than the steel of a Tiger. However, anyone who dared to look into the matter were sent to Berlin immediately. Why? It was preferable not to ask.
Then he heard the hard snow being crushed under a person's boots. "What are there scientists doing here?"
The general glanced over his shoulder, only to find a young man shivering in his greatcoat. He could hardly be seen underneath that scarf, but his breathing was noted when he breathed out of his mouth. "The scientists are field testing their project for military use, Captain Berger." He answered. "It was supposed to be done at Eschdorf, but an American raid forced them to bring their equipment here."
The captain angled his head with curiosity. "Why here? Don't they know that if the Americans advance into Germany it would be here?" Berger questioned. "It's a hefty risk, I say."
Voss returned his gaze back upon the scientific project that was being prepared. "Indeed, but if this machine works we may have a fighting chance against the Americans. That is what matters now."
"Are you sure, sir? They surround us from all sides. My Panzergrenadiers tried to take St. Vith, but the Americans are now consolidating everything on pushing us back into the fatherland."
"I can understand your skepticism. I just hope that there may be a future for Germany. This might be the last time our country can exist. We were lucky during the Great War, but we might not be so after this one." His eyes trailed upon the scientists and their white lab coats. The colors almost matched the snow, a fitting camouflage if the Americans tried to do the same for their troops.
The scientists were quick to take their position in front of the general, congregating around a console, plugged by dozens of wires. Most of these wires were powered by the town's generator, investing their time and energy into this machine that could not work. Yet, it was a worthy risk to win the war on the Western Front. One of the scientists turned around and smiled towards the military personnel with his thumb raised. "General Voss, we are ready." The scientist stated.
The general nodded his head in response. "Begin the project."
Seven scientists converged around the console as their hands twisted the knobs. As the men remained silent, the strange platform began humming into the air. The power from the generators was flowing into the project and sound was beginning to get louder. "Once we power up these platforms, we will be able to designate where your troops will arrive on location."
"Intriguing theory, but I will have to wait and see for that my-" General Voss was immediately interrupted by a strange sound originating from the platform. His were glued upon the center, but what had befallen upon the location was a different matter. A small black ball suddenly appear into reality. Are my eyes playing tricks on me? A thought occurred through his mind as he watched the energy expand. It's growing. The ball of energy slowly expanded into the air, but remained at the center of the platform.
What was currently unfolding in front of him made Voss observe in awe. So this is what Germany was sending to me? An opportunity. A perfect one I say. Then worry had caught his attention. Like most science projects, the possibility of going wrong was not far and his awe faded away from the jaded general as the abyss of energy grew larger.
"Tell me, is that thing going to expand more than it's supposed to be?" He wondered.
"Don't worry." One of the scientists commented. "The platform shall act as an anchor to keep the energy in place. It won't expand any far than it should. This safeguard was considered when we designed this project. This is something we learned from the destroyed project in Eschdorf."
That was reassuring to the commander as he watched the portal stabilize into the center of the platform. "When will I be able to send my troops?" He asked.
"Give us thirty minutes. We're going to make a few tests and learn if it is safe enough for the-"
The black portal pulsed.
Another scientist raised his head from the console and glanced over to the strange phenomenon that had occurred. "That's strange the portal shouldn't be doing that. Maybe we should power it down for just a moment and see if we should find additional stabilizers…"
Major General Voss allowed the bald scientists to ramble on as his eyes observed the strange moment. Small particles were released from the portal as they slowly moved away from the epicenter. However, each particle was a puzzle piece of its own as they connected to one-another, but what it was forming was truly different. It's appearance was almost like a wolf, but not a wolf at the same time.
When the last piece was finished, the wolf-like creature was staring at the commander with its crimson eyes. It was like looking at a nightmare he had not seen since his own childhood, but unlike the scary imaginations he had as boy this monster… was alive.
The plan to secure Ouren had a slight adjustment for Able Company. Instead of parachuting into the town as planned, the paratroopers were deployed near the southern bridge. Apparently, the new replacement officer of Fox Company deemed it fitting due to command's emphasis on protecting the town at all cost.
In Johnny's eyes, the fucking new guy had no clue what he was doing. Yes, he and his paratroopers would have been stuck in the town, but paratroopers were used to this by now.
As the lieutenant followed his men towards the southern bridge, his men were split up into two groups based upon the road leading into Ouren. If the Germans were to open fire upon the walking soldiers, there was a chance that once side wouldn't be getting shot. In comparison to the opposite, there was a chance of eating the bullet, but the chances of escaping enemy fire was possible.
Lieutenant Vastano looked past the road and noticed the tall buildings in the distance. Ouren was not far, it would be ways to get there, but the distance wasn't too much for him. As he closed the distance, he noticed the road slowly reach a checkpoint, but it was empty. Okay, that's weird. "Hey, you guys find it odd that this place is empty."
His men began to speak amongst themselves. "Krauts would have like to sent a group of guys to hold this place."
Another paratrooper spoke up. "Guys, there's a building on the left side. Why don't we check that out?"
Johnny turned his full attention on the wooden building on the left side of the road. It was the only structure here that wasn't on other other side of the town. "Search the building. Maybe the krauts were sleeping in."
"They'll be in one hell of a surprise I say." A sergeant commented. "Squad, on me. We're clearing the building." A dozen of paratroopers followed the man's lead as they encircled the entire building. As he stood near the door with his Thompson in hand, he glanced over to his fellow men and nodded. Soon after, he kicked the door opened and stormed into the barracks with three paratroopers following him.
Moments passed when a paratrooper stepped into the doorway and glanced over to the lieutenant. "Nobody is here." He reported.
Johnny looked away from the barracks and looked across the bridge and observed the town from afar. Then he brought out his binoculars for a closer look as his sights focused on the town. There should be some sign of German soldiers patrolling the town they were defending. Why would they decide to let him and his boys set up shop on the town near their border? This isn't right, none of this is. His mind thought about it. Perhaps it was an elaborate ruse to bring Able Company into the town and trap them, but why? "I don't like this, not one bit." He commented to himself.
The sergeant stepped out of the wooden building and joined the lieutenant in the middle of the road. "Makes me think of Market Garden." He commented. "If we go into the town, it would feel like a recipe for disaster."
"I'll agree with you on that, Martin, but we need to control this bridge and secure the northern one as well."
"Sir, with respect to your authority I got an idea."
Lieutenant Vastano glanced over to his second-in-command. "Lay it out on me, sergeant, I'm all ears."
Then Sergeant Martin express a grin on his face. "I suggest we have a platoon and a weapon support team to consolidate on this end while you and the rest of the troopers secure the other end. In case the krauts decide to surround you, we'll be able to hold the bridge until Baker and Fox arrive with enough reinforcements to get you out of an encirclement."
"Sounds like a plan." After consulting with his sergeant, the officer grabbed the attention of his men. "2nd Platoon, hold this bridge. If the krauts want it, you give them a beating. Get a machine gun to hold this place until then." Then he looked over to everyone else. "Rest of you, we're moving into Ouren."
As the lieutenant's men formed their positions or followed him, he could hear his second-in-command shouting out to the defenders. "Keep those Bazookas in the back, I don't want no backblast." When the paratroopers crossed the bridge, Vastano looked to his left and then to his right, only to see everyone expand their spacing as they followed the road into the town.
With the rest of the company moving into the town, the first he came across was a store building that had its windows shattered. His eyes began to notice the lack of explosive power involved. What happened here? Then Johnny slowly stepped to the shattered window, only to find a German helmet and a rifle lay there. "Paratroopers, stay with your partner." He ordered.
The silence was not helping as he walked away from the store and moved deeper into the German-controlled town. Problem with that, where was the Germans? If the Germans left this place, intelligence would have told the companies involved.
A man cried out ahead of him, but was nowhere to be seen. Maybe the Germans knew they were coming? "Find cover, get off the road." He immediately sprinted towards a cafe on his right and found safety behind its pillars. Still, there was nothing except silence. Gunfire erupted from the distance, but Lieutenant Vastano didn't know why the shooting has happening there instead of here. "Something is not right about this."
Then the silence was broken by the loud snapping of boots meeting the stone road. The sound grew closer in Johnny's general direction. He peeked his head out from behind the pillar and noticed a figure running towards him. Why? Johnny would have to ask, but it didn't matter right now.
"Contact, contact!"
Soon, he drew his Thompson and aimed downrange. As the figure sprinted towards him, the lieutenant recognized the uniform and the man's helmet. He was a Fallschirmjäger, a German paratrooper.
Johnny stepped out from his cover and heard his men drawing their weapons upon the lonely soldier. To the man's surprise, the enemy dropped his weapon and raised his hands in the air. However, his face expressed nothing, but terror. "What the hell are you doing all by yourself?"
The German started speaking in his country's tongue and began pointing at the general direction he came from. His voice did not assure the lieutenant since his tone was not providing any confidence.
"We're going to need a translator." He glanced over his shoulder to the paratroopers behind him. "Someone send a runner to Sergeant Martin and we'll see what we can do with this guy-"
A bestial growl caught the lieutenant's attention back upon the lonely German. The man looked around and began to search for it's origins, but his head turned to the right side of the road. This time, his eyes focused on the alley. "Nein, nein!" He cried in fear as he backed away from the growl. Then he reached for his dropped weapon.
"Wait, don't-"
There was a large black creature that leaped onto the German with its claws striking into its defenseless victim without remorse. The man screamed in agony as he shouted for help, but the monster amplified his voice with it's relentless strikes. Then it paused at it's bleeding victim and lunged its jaws towards its prey.
Lieutenant Vastano watched in horror as the wolf-like beast stopped its feast and turned it's crimson gaze upon the paratrooper. His mouth opened with fear. "O-Open fire!" Gunfire erupted from behind his back as he backed away from the creature with his finger on the trigger. His weapon fired upon the monster without restriction while the creature crept towards the paratroopers within its vicinity.
Rifles, automatics, sub-machine guns, it did not matter. The hailstorm of bullets began to hit the monster that presented itself as a target to the men. The sheer amount of firepower wasted on the creature was enormous, ammo that was meant to engage against another force was now focused on the wolf monster. Yet, the damage inflicted was enormous. It tried to leap, but it's attempt was all for naught.
Then it fell.
The paratroopers remained silent while the barrels of their guns were smoking from their use on this one occasion. After all of these years in the Airborne, against all the dangers in his experience, Lieutenant Vastano was scared. Nothing in boot camp had taught him how to prepare for a monster such as this and no veteran had any idea what he came across. "Stay where you are, it might be playing dead." Johnny stated.
To his surprise, the dark-skinned monster with its bony-like armor was not bleeding. Instead, it's body began to break down into small black particles. The creature disintegrated before his very eyes without leaving a single trace with exception to the victim it left behind.
"Someone send a call to CP… we found something that isn't normal."
A paratrooper shouted. "Shit, behind us!"
When Johnny turned around, the paratrooper pointed towards another alley belonging on the right side of the road. However, a stinger immediately struck him and pulled him away from the group. The only remain of him was his agonizing scream as he was snatched away by a golden stinger.
Out from the alley, a giant scorpion clad in black crept from the shadows.
This place is a goddamn kill zone. He thought to himself. "Airborne, fall back to the southern bridge! Run back to the southern bridge!" The lieutenant ordered as his men followed his command. The dozens of men fired upon the heavily armored scorpion that moved forth to find its prey. While the men did their best to run past the monstrosity, it's golden stinger struck another paratrooper from the retreating Americans and turned him into another victim.
The men were running for their lives as the scorpion chased after them, despite it's small legs and it's sheer size.
The thought of fighting the Germans was now a distant memory as Johnny Vastano ran for his life. He could hear the scorpion whine in rage as it followed his lead. As he continued this path, he recognized the men of 2nd platoon taking notice of their route. "Use the Bazookas, kill that thing!"
Two pairs of men pulled brought the rocket launchers on their shoulders. While the paratroopers of 2nd platoon fired upon the giant scorpion, the anti-tank teams placed their position amongst the defenders. "Fire!" Sergeant Martin ordered.
The launchers roared to life as the rockets flew over the retreating paratroopers and exploded upon impact. Then the scorpion expressed its pain in a roar.
"Reload, quickly. Everyone, kill that son of a bitch!"
Once the retreating paratroopers took positions with the rest of the defenders behind piles of logs or a fence, Lieutenant Vastano searched for a radio. "Where's the fucking radio?"
A paratrooper was quick to run up to him with the set on his back. "Don't worry, sir, I'm right here."
"Good, tell CP we need air support with HVAPs and we need them now!" Soon, the lieutenant joined his men in buttoning the scorpion with bullets bouncing off of it's face. The claws immediately covered its eyes as protection while the gunfire continued to chip away at it's thick armor. Then Johnny stopped firing his Thompson as he recognized the familiar cry of aircraft flying closeby. "Shit, we need the smoke. Someone pop some red smoke on that fucker!"
Of all the men who had a chance to volunteer, Sergeant Martin ran towards the scorpion as he pulled the pin out from the grenade. Soon he threw the grenade towards the creature as red smoke began to form a cloud around the creature. After he did his duty, the sergeant began running back to the terrified paratroopers.
Then Johnny looked to the west to find two airplanes flying towards the designated target. The closer they got, he anticipated for the "fireworks" to arrive. He was not disappointed. Streams of rockets hammered the ground with explosive power, but an airstrike meant for tanks should be enough to hurt the monster that was attacking his men.
All the remained was the smoke and kicked up snow that remained in the air, but as they began to settle down. The creature remained in its place, but it was obvious that it was broken. The stinger was hanging on by a thread while one of its pincers was separated from its body. It was dead from this point on. Similarly, the remains of the creature broke down just like the wolf monster that killed the German.
Johnny breathed heavily after what had happened recently. "This is going to make one hell of a report." He quietly whispered to himself. Then he glanced over to his paratroopers. "We won't head into the town without any proper support so rest easy. Now someone get me on the line to CP, they need to see this."
