X James X
I pressed my fingers to the pilot's wrist, trying to find a pulse. There was one. "He's still alive."
"Thank god." His companion sighed and sat back in this chair. In the dogfight our ships had been caught in and our pilot shot down, they'd picked up several people that had abandoned their planes: seven Lazurians, a bomber crew apparently, and six NRA carrier pilots. With the ships in port, the wounded were being moved here into the medic station, the unarmed into the Comm tower, and the prisoners into the mess hall.
Outside, the sailors were working feverishly to repair their damaged Destroyer just as much as we were working feverishly to save the wounded. The lull in the battle might not last long, though it was at least some comfort a few tanks from the 12th had finally got here. They were apparently trying to mend the bridge to get the rest here.
"It was scary." The other pilot leaned forward. However young he was, he was still a Lieutenant, Junior grade like all carrier pilots. "We were the first shot down. When we were floating down, this fighter just rushed past him and the chute collapsed. He hit the water hard, scared the shit out of me!" He said.
"Hmm." I rubbed my crooked jaw. "That might mean internal bleeding." I realized; water was as hard as concrete when falling.
"There's hemostatic medicine in the back." Peter said as he passed. He and Helen were going from bed to bed, making sure the most injured were receiving constant attention. The ship's medical officers were still using the ship's station.
I quickly retrieved the needed medicine and slipped it in his mouth and massaged his throat. "Should do it. Anyone else of your group either?"
"Nah, those chicks from the fighter wing are fine. My chute went off just fine." He shook his head. Nodding, I went on to treat some of the less injured sailors of wounds of burns, shrapnel, and in one bad case, a severed foot.
"Put that on ice." I eyed the bundle one of the sailors at his side was holding. They'd need a actual hospital for that. I kept moving from bed to bed. For the most part, there weren't that many severe injuries. Through skill, and perhaps a bit of good fortune, all of them were stabilized before long. Fortunately, just as Sgt. Anson came in.
"Sitrep?" He asked.
"All patients are stabilized, but some will need further treatment elsewhere." Peter still didn't look up.
"The prisoners?"
"In the mess hall, sir." I said quickly. "I was just about to check on them." In truth, it wasn't so much as for security as worry. Sam was keeping watch on them. He was a good guy at heart, so I doubted he'd do anything. But that might've been the problem.
Surprisingly, when we entered the mess hall we instead found him at the table reading. I recognized the book as a standard issued culture book- even though both countries were very similar, Lazurian culture had its own aspects ours didn't.
"Do they have a separate language?" Sam asked as we walked up, not taking his eye off the book. "That broad that keeps crying kept muttering some crap or another. We thought she was having a stroke, but then the others started doing the same." I looked around in confusion at a unusual sound before realizing it had come from Sgt. Anson. Sam looked up too. "I think she made that same- hey!" Without waiting for him to finish, Sgt. Anson had started towards the back of the building, chambering a round as he did.
"Sir?" I breathed, bringing my rifle up as I followed him. Sam followed behind, muttering something vulgar.
"There's an old language in one of Lazurians northern provinces that is still spoken by a few locals." He explained. "It is also taught to their Special Forces to maintain secrecy. The word I used meant 'kill'."
"Damn." A revolt would not have been good for our already diminished morale. The prisoners were being kept in the kitchen. Even before we went through the door, I could hear a choking voice speaking in it. "How difficult is this language to learn?" I asked.
"Very." Sgt. Anson answered. "They had to remove it from most of our own Special Forces programs." He pushed open the door to the back. The prisoners were sitting on the floor with their hands bound. The girl was still crying, and she had to pause between each word. It tugged at my conscience again. It pulled even harder when Sgt. Anson pressed the barrel of his sniper rifle right to her forehead.
It was somewhat satisfying to see them all stop in blank shock, as it gave me a chance to observe. Compared to the bomber crew, the girl and her companions had a slightly darker shade of skin. Their facial features, namely their slightly larger eyes, also distinguished them.
Sgt. Anson spoke to her in the same language, never breaking eye contact. They were obviously surprised, and perhaps a little afraid. After he stopped, none of them seemed willing to speak again.
The girl finally spoke again, this time not choking between words. On the contrary, she seemed calm till the end of the sentence, when her voice rose and she jerked her head so violently I thought she'd snap her neck. She fell forward and broke down again, not making any effort to sit back up.
"Well?" Sam asked expectantly.
"Nothing of importance." Sgt. Anson dismissed the ordeal. She sobbed harder. The others glared at him. "You're relieved, Corporal. I'll take over watch." There was a tone of finality in his voice. It was for the better anyway.
"Glad to be out of that." Sam propped his rifle over his shoulder. "Those bastards were annoying."
"They're still people." I pointed out.
"They're still bastards." Sam sounded annoyed now. I didn't press the issue as we stepped back outside. I was surprised to see the outside mostly empty. "Where the hell did everyone go?" Sam echoed.
"The ships are evacuating. Any sailor that can walk went with them." Sgt. Anderson explained as he came over. "Where's Riley?" I explained about the pilots. "Huh, I though the Air Force wiped all those people out." He said to himself. "Anyway, collect the men and get back to the walls. Things have gone to hell in the last few minutes."
"Sir?" We both asked.
"Lazurian launched a offensive against the mountains at the same time of our attack." He explained. "They may try and divert men to attack through the mountains. With the bridge wrecked, we may not get reinforcements for a good hour. Or at all if the NRA wants the Battalion to retreat to defend the bases." He shook his head. It wasn't a pleasant thought: us stranded.
"All the commanders are bickering about it." He went on. "The Captain had to get off the line because someone else was yelling at him. But he said to hold this base and protect the wounded. We'll get further orders later."
"They might as well have told us to go fuck ourselves." Sam muttered.
"Not necessarily: the vehicles that got over the bridge are on their way here now, so we won't we alone." Sgt. Anderson informed us.
"Gives us a better chance." It sounded like a good plan. "Will we have the manpower for guarding the prisoners and the wounded?" I asked. Sgt. Anderson seemed conflicted.
"The NRA pilots are still here; they think an NRA transport will pick them up any second. We'll have to trust them to do it."
"Is that safe for them?"
"Sounds as risky as our last plan." Sam commented.
"It worked, didn't it?" I pointed out.
"Yeah, and there's still the possibility they won't come at all." Sgt. Anderson's expression hardened. "We're standing here yapping while they're clawing a path through the mountain. Gather the men and get to the wall. Hurry up!" As we walked away, I could quite clearly hear something in the distance: a small explosion and the roar of jet engines.
"They're not to give up till they hold this region."
X Tim X
"Shit." I cursed when I realized there was water pooling at my feet. Since the co-pilot seat was lower, Sarah was already waist-deep. I quickly shrugged off all safety restraints, slowing only slight when I realized the water wasn't rising. "Stupid pricks." Why'd they fire is they knew that risk? How many died in that explosion? 2000? How many of ours died? Probably none. "These bastards are crazy." I snarled as I tried to push open the canopy.
"Probably wanted to go out in style." Sarah shivered slightly. I cursed as the canopy opened and more cold water sloshed in.
"You ok?" I asked Sarah.
"Fine, just soaked." She added bitterly.
"Better then dead." I hesitating before leaping out in the water. "Holy shit, it's cold!" I practically yelled as I sunk up to my chest in water. Sarah let out a squeal as she splashed in behind me, the water going up nearly to her neck.
"I'm not much a swimmer." She grabbed on the back of my shirt. I turned and pulled her closer.
"Where the hell is everybody?" I looked up to see the sky clear. Towards the ocean, the battleship was in flames and slowly sinking. I'd walk forward to get a better look, but for all I knew the marsh dropped off. Instead we both moved the other direction.
"Oh fuck everything." I growled when I saw the tail to the helicopter was missing. I didn't much care for that symbolic crap, but I'd been flying this helicopter for years. And there was no repairing it now.
"Oh shit." Sarah muttered. "I think we just got put out of a job."
"Unless you can tell me where we can find another 15 million dollar attack helicopter, I guess we are!" I'd started walking the other direction, since it was the only thing we really could do. Sarah followed, keeping a firm grip on me. "Why do you sound worried?" I added. "I thought you wanted out of this job?" Even saying it made me uneasy. "But what would I be missing about it?" I wondered.
"Yes, because every woman dreams of settling down when there's a war going on. They better get us another goddamnit." She said this last part to herself more then me. I laughed, feeling slightly relieved for some reason.
"How far out in the marshes are we anyway?" I wondered.
"Too far." Sarah answered. "But either way, I think we're out of the action for awhile."
"Don't remind me." I stopped and looked around. To the right were the mountains in the distance. I thought I could see some flashing. To the left, more marshland. In front of me, more marshland. "Wonderful." I muttered.
"Is that a boat?" Sarah said suddenly. I twisted around to see where she was staring. There was something there.
"Might be Lazurian." I reached under the water and pulled out my pistol and shook it to dry the water. "Oh shit." The boat was coming towards us. What could we do? Absolutely fucking nothing but let the gunboat, as we could now see, get closer.
I was irritated to see two rifles and machine gun pointed at me before the all stopped aiming. "What the hell are you two doing out here?" One of them set down his rifle and stretched his hand out. I let them help Sarah up before me. For some reason, it was even colder out of the water.
"Shot down, who the fuck are you?" I tried not to let my teeth chatter. "Goddamn cold never hurt me before."
"NRA Navy branch." A tarp was thrown over us and Sarah snuggled in closer as I sat down to lean against the cabin. "We're suppose to pick up a few prisoners from the 12th Battalion and pick up a few of our pilots you guys saved. That's where your from, right?"
"That's our group." Sarah nodded and started straining her wet hair.
"We're here to give them a ride.." The sailor explained. "They were going to send a lander, but we got the job because they said there might be a small enemy presence there. We'll give you guys a ride."
"Thanks." Sarah nodded. I muttered the same.
"Still a shitty day." The fact we were being saved didn't really affect me.
X James X
"They're getting closer…" Nies eyed the horizon.
"Stay focused." I ordered, watching the smoke drifting up from the mountain. The four tanks and three Humvees had taken up positions outside the base where they could fire on the port. The lone AA tank that had made it was within the base for protection. Having taken positions on the wall, we were watching the mountain for enemy troops that might come, at which point we'd have to keep them from the barricade standing in for the metal door.
I'd wondered if they knew we had prisoners, since I knew I'd heard the roar of bombers in the distance. If they did, at least it would null the fear of a artillery or bomber strike.
The ships were long since gone, but we'd yet to get anymore orders from command, only a message that a Chinook was on the way to evacuate the wounded but the other had engine trouble. At times when the explosions died down, we could still hear the wind.
"I hope they're ok." The NRA had held out against constant attacks for a while, and now they were fighting what may well be the last battle of the war, considering the casualties that must be being taken on both sides. "They're brave, both of them." As stupid as Lazuria was, they still fought hard.
"How will they come over the mountain?" Cerutti asked.
"Probably by helicopter." I reflected. "I doubt they have the resources to land more troops."
"This is Phoenix 12-1. It clear down there?" Carpenter asked over the radio. I looked and saw the tiny shape in the distance.
"Copy, stay low and keep the engine running." Sgt. Anderson replied. "Coleman, take your squad and help move the wounded."
"Yes sir." I waved to Cerutti, Nies, and Karst to follow me and we climbed down from the wall. Since most of the sailors had gone with the ships, the base was mostly empty, with the few occupants hiding in the buildings. Of the seventy of so injured, nearly thirty of them were still injured. When I explained it to Peter, he said we could only safely move maybe twenty of them.
"The rest will have to stay till they're stabilized." He said. "But we should be able to fit the others on one bird." I ordered my squad to help move the wounded. By the time the helicopter had found a space within the wreckage large enough land, we were already outside with several casualties. Avoiding the small scraps of metal the blades blew around, we loaded the men in, taking care to make sure they were comfortable.
"Hey!" One of the pilots had come out. "Aren't we leaving?" She asked.
"It's for casualties, Lieutenant." I explained. "It's heading further inland. Just stay inside the buildings." I tried to wave her away. It was too dangerous right now. She looked affronted, but seemed to recognize my request because she headed back for the Comm tower. Behind me, the helicopter began to rise.
"Oh shit!" I saw the helicopter turn suddenly to the side and a missile soared past its flank. "The enemy has AA missiles, we're getting the hell out of here!" Carpenter didn't wait for a order. More missiles flew past the helo, barely missing it.
"Enemy has deployed long range AA missiles!" Sgt. Anderson reported to the Captain. "Shut down all aircraft!"
"Back to your post!" I ordered my squad. We quickly resumed our spot on the wall. I brought my rifle out and examined the mountains through the side. The small dot didn't move over anything I could see that moved.
Yet the explosions were getting louder and louder, coupled with the distant roar of jet engines. They had to know we were here. Then again, if they caught the NRA's Headquarters, the fight was good as done even if we were still here.
We watched, but nothing came. I lost track of the time, but it might have been half an hour before a loud metal ping echoed off the wall. Several more followed in rapid succession. "Snipers!" Sgt. Anson yelled. "Get down!" We all ducked behind the battlements.
"Alright, they'll be providing cover fire for infantry to storm the base!" Sgt. Anderson said. "We need to stop them. Captain Maylou, is that Destroyer rearmed?"
"Negative." Her reply came back. "We just arrived."
"Damn. Any progress on the bridge?" He radioed the Lieutenant.
"Negative." She replied.
"Damn." He repeated. "Alright, new plan people. We need to-
What we had to do, we never found out. At that exact moment, there was a enormous explosion the likes of which we'd yet to ever experience. In a single moment, my hearing and all thoughts were wiped from my brain as it shook within my skull.
Something hit the wall with indescribable force. Without even realizing it, all of us were thrown clear off the wall and on to the concrete below. Facing the red sky above, my mind was unable to register or process anything. Then something blew overhead, obscuring my vision. Over the ringing, some voice told me there was something deeply wrong with this. Suddenly, something grabbed my throat and I realized that I couldn't breath.
"Mask. Gas mask." The words clawed at me. Gas Mask! I closed my mouth and rolled over, tearing my pack off at the same time. My goggles were fogged up, but I dared not to remove them.
With great difficulty, I extracted the piece of equipment and quickly yanked off the bandanna and goggles. I could breath again as soon as put it on. I looked around and could see the outline of my comrades withering around through the dust. I could worry about what the hell happened later, they needed my help.
X With Tim X
"Jesus!" I grabbed Sarah and ducked as the boat rocked back and both. My words were echoed vulgarly by the crew. Though when the ship didn't sink, something that would've perfectly ended this shitty day, we both looked up. I would've muttered 'damn', but the word got caught in my throat. The mountain seemed to have been blown apart. Huge clouds of red dust were flying out and blocking it from view.
"Oh my god." There wasn't amazement or shock in Sarah's statement. It was fear. Hell, it made my stomach flip. Whatever had just happened, it made one thing clear: these bastards would resort to whatever efforts to win, no matter the cost. We were pawns, disposable ones at that.
"I think retirement might be the safer option." I conceded. "It ain't worth it if this is what they'll resort to."
"Did our guys even get out?" One of the sailors asked. There was no way that hadn't affected some of our own guys. I sat back down, Sarah sitting on my lap. I didn't even pay attention to the sailors and wrapped my arms around her waist.
"I don't think so…" His companion answered.
"That's fucked up." I commented. "Almost sounds like something Waylon would do." I wondered if that bastard was out here? I watched the clouds drift out. "What about our guys?" I asked out loud. Their base had been right beside the mountain, hadn't it?
"God have mercy." The same sailor shook his head. Without any warning, his friend turned and blew chunks into the water. Sarah sunk down onto the floor and leaned against my legs.
The boat stopped suddenly. The Captain, a man so old he was probably a veteran of the last war, emerged from the cabin and shook his head. "We can't go in there. The engine would get clogged. Sorry you to, but you're coming back with us."
"Fine." I said. "That's fine." I shook my head. "That could've been us." I realized. If that battleship hadn't shown, we probably would've stayed near the base. Gone. Just like that. Maybe retiring wasn't such a bad idea: There were some desperate people we were helping. Desperate enough not to care about us.
"I didn't sign up for this shit." I thought as the boat turned around.
X James X
I didn't remember falling asleep. The last thing I could consciously remember was dragging someone away into one of the buildings. The next I found myself laying on the floor with a 12th Battalion soldier above me.
"Get up." He pulled me up. "We're getting the hell out this hellhole."
"What happened?" I asked groggily, picking momentarily at my gas mask till I remembered what it was. I looked around. The hell that had engulfed as seemingly minutes ago was gone. Had I slept right through it? Maybe I passed out?
"NRA is saying some arm catches in the mountain got set off. I've never seen a supply point make that big an explosion, though." He added. I stood up and stumbled for a minute before looking around.
Our own soldiers, either too stunned or tired to move themselves, were being helped by the others. "I give you guys credit: that must've been terrifying." He went on.
"Yeah…" I didn't even remember it. The whole memory had seemed to turn into a blur. I turned my head back and forth to check my hearing. It didn't seem to be damaged.
"The NRA pulled out of the region hours ago. Captain Brenner refused till we had everyone though. All units are being recalled closer to the Capital." He explained.
"Victoria." I said dazedly. "They must be worried sick."
"Come on, your disoriented." He dismissed my rambling and guided me outside. "I hope the rest of the war isn't this crazy." This sentence seemed to clear my mind.
"Even if it is, I'm still determined to finish it."
"You alright, Coleman? You inhaled some of the dust and passed out." A voice interrupted me, though who the owner was I couldn't really name right now.
"Yes sir." I said to the ground, and suddenly a tightness came to my throat.
"Alright…get him to the truck. Let's get the fuck out of this place." The voice ordered.
XX Author's Note XX
Confused? That's because so are the characters; give them time to digest it. I know it seems like I wrapped things up rather suddenly, but it'll all be explained in the next chapter. Besides, it's significance isn't in this leg of the story. The 12th Battalion just witnessed it.
One of the things I frown about is how I can't write one leg without spoiling events in another. But with so few people left, contact in inevitable.
Leave a review with comments, praise, constructive criticism, or ideas if you so please. I'm slightly worried my quality is diminishing because I'm cutting the occasional corner to make sure updates aren't that slow. The next one is a important chapter character-plot wise so it may take a while.
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