Chapter 9

Breaking the Scone

1942, December. Location: Great Britain, Outside London

I can't remember when is the last time I enjoyed the winter. A friend of mine once told me that winter is a time when everything must slumber. It's not the time for fighting. I still close my eyes and imagine those happy days. I also think that if it weren't for this war, I would be married to the man I love and have kids. But, that day would never come, even if the war ended or the war ended me. As I peek through the window all I can see is the play ground I used to visit when I was a child. As I sip this tea I share the worries of my fellow comrades. We hope we would come out of this alive.

-An entry from the journal of Darjeeling

"Continuous bombardments have been pummeling at this part of the city. Defenses are strong, but we can penetrate it."

Darjeeling took a sip of her tea, seemingly lost in her thoughts. "What's the price?"

Assam swallowed thickly, "Major casualties on all fronts Ma'am."

Darjeeling slowly put down her tea then laid her hands at the table. "If it means gaining our freedom. Then by any means necessary"

"Yes ma'am." Quickly replied by Assam.

After years of fighting, Saint Gloriana got a foothold of London and they are going to take this chance even if it means the lives of the whole order. Now all it takes is to take back the palace. They are expecting an urban warfare. German artillery is effective and accurate. They would need to take down different enemy artilleries so that their tanks could mobilize inside.

Not more than a kilometer out and they are already caught with heavy fire from the Germans. Saint Gloriana must face 2 regiments of Schwarzwald Kampgruppen before they can reach the heart of London. That's about 2000 men in total and I hate it that once Erika got a whiff of us they would react with speed and ferocity. Now we are fighting for our lives.

Darjeeling is stuck in a building just a hundred meters from her original position when they received fire. She has been firing her rifle every time she saw someone in a gray uniform. Beside her is Orange Pekoe who has been firing her machine gun non-stop for over a half hour. Another thirty minutes has passed, and they are still stuck in the same building.

Darjeeling radioed in. "Assam, where the hell are you?!"

"Ma'am, we're also stuck in the other side. We can't get to you."

Darjeeling slammed the radio, then returned to her position. She knew that they would get nowhere if they would stay in one position. She must get out of there one way or another. She readies her men for a charge at the building across them where the Germans are positioned.

She charged the open street and already 4 of his soldiers went down immediately. But, they can't stop now. She charges at the window shattering it in whole with her men following suit. After which, they cleared the first floor and charged at the second. It was tedious work, but a sweep around the building is a necessary protocol if they want more of them to survive.

The story is no different with Assam. They too are stuck in one position. While peeking in a window that is only covered by plywood, she taps the back of her radio operator. "Hey, radio in reinforcements and see if they can clear out. Ask for mortar strike at the building in front of us as well." When there was no response whatsoever, she turned to repeat the statement just in case she wasn't heard only to see the operator lying flat with a bullet wound piercing his head. She grabbed the radio, desperation crawling at her skin.

"Rosehip, what's your status! I need support!"

"Under heavy fire! Can't provide support, can't provide support!"

Rosehip's Company is engaged in Highgate Cemetery just about 7 miles north of Buckingham palace. Just 2 kilometers away from where Assam is.

A small bloody hole is what saves me from those flying bullets. I'm just lucky that I would have the chance to die in a cemetery. Grenades exploding everywhere and every time I peek I would saw one of my men die. It's very unsightly but this is what god put me in to and I would have to accept that. Assam just radioed in and I'm a little glad that she is in the same shit hole as I am. Those are the parts I keep to myself since it's a little selfish. I can't be too reckless now ever since I lost my platoon to a damn Tiger Tank, I realized that I can't get around anything with speed.

-An entry from the journal of Rosehip

"Ma'am, we are getting hammered here. They're too many!"

"We have no choice we need to push! All units are engaged we're not expecting any reinforcements anytime soon!"

Rosehip took a charge, making the battle a fierce close quarter combat. Using the tombs as cover, they did their best to push towards the city. Marking the end of the cemetery is a chapel. Her squad holed up there then surveyed the area. Then a soldier approached and handed the handset of the radio backpack to Rosehip. "Ma'am, its Darjeeling."

"What's your status on that artillery?"

"Almost there ma'am. We are experiencing heavy resistance from the Germans"

"Understood." Then Darjeeling put back the handset to the radio. She then grabbed a scoped rifle and approached Orange Pekoe.

"Orange Pekoe, I need you to do something..."

Crawling behind enemy lines is the worst but I don't want to think off it that way. I may look little and frail, but I can pack a punch. Keep calm and carry on, that's what Churchill used to say. I'm surprised she even asked me to do this job. I don't have sharp eyes like Assam, but she put me up for this, so maybe she saw something in me.

I got to an advantageous position, this apartment is a great position and I'm confident that I can land a shot even if they are a few hundred meters away. I took a deep breath, scan for my target and fired. I fired and fired. I then saw a man who was looking young and handsome and then I realized something. I don't know who he is or where his from, but I'm about to end his life with my own hands. I'm sure his family will be devastated. No! I need to stop thinking about this.

-An entry from the journal of Orange Pekoe

As Orange Pekoe was about to take a shot, she heard loud footsteps. She draws her pistol and readies herself after 5 seconds a soldier entered, and she immediately fired her gun. Orange Pekoe knew they would flood her, so she immediately exits. At the corridor several soldiers were coming her way, so she opened fire. After eliminating the group of soldiers, the room about 50 meters behind her exploded. She has no room to think but to run away from the explosion. Outside was a tank firing at her position. While running, the tank continued to shoot in the hopes it would take her out.

For the first time in her life, she realized that she was lucky to be small and nimble. It made her pretty fast. While running in corridor. a shot was fired near her, so it threw her at the wall. She groaned and put her hand in her back, it was too painful to move, but if she wants to get out of there alive she have to find an escape. As she looked at the front, the shot made a hole on the floor. She figured that jumping from that hole would break her legs from the debris below plus, enemies are crowding in the street. After a few seconds, she's managed run towards the hole, jumping on it.

After a few meters away from the hole, she got shot in the shoulders. She put pressure in her wound and looked at the side. She saw a bunch of enemy soldiers lining up in the windows of the building opposite to her. She draws her pistol and ran, she then pointed it in their direction then fired it while she is running. A bullet coming from the enemy hit the window pane then ricochet towards her it only grazed her breast, but she staggered. She checked for any sign of bleeding, although luckily, there were none.

Still running, Orange Pekoe reloads her pistol and realized it was the last clip. Luckily, there's a large hole at the end of the corridor. She reached the end, but she is having second thoughts on jumping. Suddenly, the tank fired a shot behind her which sends her flying outside. Orange Pekoe rolled on the ground and as she opens her eyes she saw German soldiers closing in. she reached for her pistol in front of her and as soon as she held the grip, her hand was stepped on by a German soldier.

The soldier grabbed her pistol as she turned herself and saw the muzzle already facing her. She closed her eyes and accepted what was to come. A single shot was fired then a barrage of shots came.

Orange Pekoe opened her eyes again and on the top side of her is Darjeeling, who's almost getting a little teary eyed. Darjeeling put down her rifle and knelt.

"I'm so glad." Said by Darjeeling after which she wiped the bottom of her eyes with her finger.

"What happened Ma'am?"

"You did a great job dealing a lot of damage with your sniping skills and we've completed the first phase."

End of Chapter 9.

Authors note:

Experimenting on a new approach to the story.