"Colonel Adams, we cannot hold Hasselt with our current forces. Over."
"I am well aware of that Lieutenant but the Imperials have launched a counter-attack with mechanized units. Currently, we cannot break through them and reach Hasselt. You'll have to hold the city until we defeat the counter-attack. Out."
Jackson sighed and walked out of the building. They are using the Imperials HQ as their own for now. "Sergeant Brooks!"
"Sir, what do you need?"
"Take the squad and start fortifying the East side of the city."
"Sir. What about our reinforcements?"
"We've been cut off. Right now, we're on our own."
She nodded and he headed back into the HQ. "Squad fifteen mount up! We're heading to the East side of the city to dig in! Grab those two AT guns!"
"Yes ma'am!"
"Grab the MGs and take them with you as well!"
She walked toward the lead half-track while the squad followed her orders. They grabbed the medium machine guns and put them in the M1PCs while two AT guns were attached to them and their ammo loaded into the M1PCs. Two minutes later, they are heading toward the Eastern edge of Hasselt.
They stopped and the squad jumped out. "Set the MGs up in the windows!"
The two half-tracks towing the AT guns rolled past and turned left. They stopped and the troops jumped up, unlatched the AT guns, and rolled them into position. Sandbags are placed and single man foxholes were dug. The half-tracks headed back to get more material for the defense.
Down the road, engineers were setting up a secondary defensive position at an intersection. Two snipers set themselves up in two buildings and estimated the range. The half-tracks were back a couple minutes later carrying more ammo, sandbags, grenades, and ragnaid all of which they had 'borrowed' from the Imperials.
After ten minutes of setting up defensives they heard gunfire and it was fairly close. "Ma'am! Report from the scouts! Imperial mechanized force is heading our way! They reckon they'll be here in five minutes!"
"Double time it people! We're running out of time!"
A light tank rolled up the street and stopped just behind the AT guns. Four minutes later, an M1PC crested the hill and entered the city. A minute later an Imperial armored car crested the hill.
"FIRE!"
BOOM! BOOM!
The AT guns thundered sending two shells screaming downrange! One shell fell short but the second slammed into the turret and tore out the back! It backed off behind the hill and Imperial soldiers appeared atop the hill. Dozens of shots rang out at once followed by the thunder of a tank cannon. Down the street the two snipers aimed for the Imperials with red on their armor marking them as NCOs.
More Imperial forces crested the hill and trails of smoke flew through the air. They landed and a huge cloud of smoke is rapidly created blinding both sides. They waited for the Imperials to charge out of the smoke, weapons clenched tightly. They heard the sound of engines getting closer and two armored cars burst through the smoke! Before the lancers could fire both AT guns were destroyed! One of the armored cars was destroyed by the tank but the second one escaped back into the smoke.
They heard the sound of treads and engines and when the first Imperial tank is seen two lances destroy it! The smoke was starting to clear and they could see vague outlines of what looked to be tanks. The lancers fired at these outlines and the explosions quickly dispersed what was left of the smoke. A medium fired destroying the light tank and armored cars fired at the windows, their autocannons tore through the concrete buildings.
A lance slammed into one of the armored cars and detonated its ammo killing the Imperials using it for cover. A light tank fired a high-explosive shell into the building blowing out a portion of the wall. More Imperials are cresting the hill with armored vehicles backing them up. They stopped on top of the hill and shelled the buildings.
"Throw smoke! Fall back to the second defensive position!"
Smoke grenades are tossed out the windows and the Gallians exit the buildings. They used the alleyways to get to the second defensive position. "Lieutenant Jackson, we're falling back to our second defensive position. Over."
"Understood Sergeant. Out."
They quickly set up at the secondary position. An M1PC rolled down the street towing an AT gun. The troops got out, unlatched the AT gun, and moved it into position. The M1PC stayed to add its firepower to the defense.
An Imperial light tank was trying to work its way the destroyed Gallian tank. The AT gun fired killing the crew. It blocked the road for any more armored vehicles. When the Imperials tried to push past they were met with a hail of fire cutting them down. They used the tank wrecks as cover and fired back.
"They're using the alleys!"
Corporal Ellis York leads two shock troopers into the alley to stop the Imperials. A shock trooper turned the corner and he fired killing him. He and his two squad members rushed into cover. The first shock trooper blind fired down the alleyway and York poked out to fire before ducking back into cover. The second shock trooper moved beside York and fired a burst before ducking back into cover to reload.
Back at the intersection, the Imperials have pushed forward slightly. Now, they're using the buildings directly in front the wrecked tanks as cover. The AT gun put a HE shell into one of the buildings blowing a hole in it. The M1PC sprayed the windows with bullets keeping the Imperials pinned.
Shells began to land around squad fifteen in rapid succession. "ARTILLERY!"
Any squad members in the street scrambled into the buildings as artillery rained down! The shells tore up the road sending shrapnel and concrete flying! The shells started slamming into the buildings destroying the roofs, blowing out the walls, and destroying the floors! One of the shells slammed through a window and exploded killing four Gallians and severely wounding five more.
Two squadmates rushed up to the second floor and grabbed two of the wounded. They brought them to the half-track, loaded them in, and went back for the others. When they loaded the fifth soldier in the half-track backed off and turned around.
The Imperials used the artillery fire as cover and pushed up. When the fire stopped, the Imperials had occupied the buildings across from the Gallians. Fire from the windows killed one of the AT crew but the second crewmember fired the gun, the shell slammed into the right building. He waited until the fire slacked and sprinted into the building to his right! A second later a lance slammed into the gun and destroyed it!
"Sergeant Brooks! Our left and right flanks are getting hit hard! We might have to fall back!"
"Understood! Hold them off for as long as possible!"
"We'll do our best! Out!"
She ducked as bullets whistled over her head. A squadmate beside her was hit and he fell back, blood rapidly gathering under him. She checked his pulse, "Dammit!" She grabbed his tags and put them in her pocket, she would look at them later. She peeked over her cover and noticed something strange; it looked like the two wrecked tanks were moving. Her eyes winded when she noticed a turret and it was aiming right for her!
"FUCK!"
She jumped away from the window... but the explosion never came. She got to a crouch and walked over to another window. She looked down the street and saw a heavy tank pushing the two light tanks out of the way.
"Heavy tank pushing down the street!"
"Our lances can't penetrate that armor! Flank around behind it!"
Two lancers headed down the alleyway and met up with Ellis. "What are you two doing here!?"
"There's a heavy tank pushing down the street! We can use the alleyway to flank behind it!"
"Good plan! Me and you will fire down this alley! You! Move down it when we do!"
"Yes sir!"
"Ready!? FIRE!"
Ellis and the shock trooper laid down a barrage of fire! The second shock trooper pushed down the alleyway. He stopped at the corner and tossed a grenade down another alley. He waved the others forward and moved down the alleyway. An Imperial turned the corner and the shock trooper killed him. There is a second of silence before a grenade comes flying at him! He sprints away and dives around the corner just as it explodes! Two Imperials turned the corner in front of him and killed him.
Ellis fired over the head of the second trooper who crouched, both Imperials are killed. They pushed up to the corner again and Ellis peaked around it. One Imperial was cautiously moving forward gun at the ready. Behind him, the heavy tank slowly rumbled by. Ellis blind fired down the alley until his gun clicked. The second shock trooper moved past him and headed down the alley. He stopped at the end and waved the lancers forward; Ellis followed after them. They stepped into the road and readied their laces.
Ellis was watching their back when an Imperial squad ran around the corner. He fired killing two but was hit in the shoulder throwing off his aim! The shock trooper fired before jumping into a building and one of the lancers followed his lead! The other lancer tried to fire but was killed before he could. A half-track followed up and spayed its MG at the buildings! Ellis was back in the alley and fired at the gunner but couldn't hit him. He backed off firing at any Imperial who poked his head out until he got into cover, then he fell back to the intersection.
BOOM!
The tank's hull-mounted cannon fired blowing a huge hole in the building's ground floor! It adjusted and fired again with the same result. Its turret fired at the second floor and blasted Blake onto his back! "Fuck me that was close!"
"Blake! You alright!?"
"I'm fine Brooks!"
"Everyone! Fall back to the city square!"
"Brooks! Your left flank is collapsing! You need to fall back!"
"We're already on it! There's a heavy tank pushing down 300th street! Be ready!"
"Understood! I'll tell the defenders in the square! Good luck! May the Valkyr watch over you!"
"I'm going to need more than that," she mumbled. "LET"S GO! FALL BACK TO THE CITY SQUARE!"
"Come on! What are you waiting for!?"
"POP SMOKE AND FALL BACK!"
They sprinted down to the first floor, out of the building, and down the street while bullets whizzed by them and landed around them! Five squadmates fell as the bullets found their mark. They turned left at a T-intersection and ran into a make-shift defensive position! One of the MGs opened fire! "HOLD FIRE HOLD FIRE! THEY'RE FRIENDLY!"
Luckily, in his panic to fire, the gunner had only wounded three members of the squad. They were picked up by their friends and helped into cover. "Goddammit! We radioed we were falling back! Why are you here anyway!?"
"Lieutenant Jackson ordered us to create another defensive position!"
"What squad are you from!?"
"Squad 300 sir! Sergeant Day at your service!"
"Where is your Lieutenant!?"
"Dead sir! I'm the leader of the squad now!"
"Sara! What's going on here!?"
"Friendly fire ma'am! Apparently, Jackson ordered the creation of a third defensive line without us knowing!"
"Any killed?"
"No ma'am. Just three wounded."
"Good. Alright, it would be stupid not to take advantage of this position. Spread out in these buildings! Ambush the Imperials when they round the corner!"
"Wait! She wasn't a sergeant!? Aren't you going to reprimand her!?"
"No! Now get your squad ready!"
She sprinted into the building leaving Day shaking his head and grumbling. They waited in silence only hearing their own breathing and the sound of gunfire and explosions in the city. The sound of an engine followed by the rumbling of a tank caused them to tighten the grip on their weapons and hold their breath for a split second.
The heavy tank exited the smoke cloud and continued down the street. Infantry followed shortly afterward and stayed on the sidewalks. The lancers readied their lances while the scouts readied their grenades. The Imperials slowly approached growing closer and closer until... "NOW!"
Six lances flew out of the windows and slammed into the tank! Its turret was destroyed and smoke billowed out from it. Two lances slammed into its engine deck causing smoke and fire to rise from it, the Imperials ducked into alleyways and buildings. Bullets slammed into the buildings, shattered windows, and killed soldiers on both sides. Some Imperials sprinted into the buildings occupied by squad fifteen only to be met with gunfire from shock troopers who were waiting for them to enter the building.
Around the corner, squad 300 was waiting. Down the road in front of them, two scouts are watching the road. Looking through their binoculars they spotted an armored car coming up the road with infantry support. "Sergeant Day. An Imperial squad with an armored car in support are advancing up the street. Over."
"Understood corporal. Keep your head down and tell me if any more are heading up the street. Out."
"Get ready! An Imperial squad and an armored car are about to meet us!"
"Understood sir! We're ready."
The top of the armored car appeared over the hill. The AT gun fired sending an AP shell downrange! The shell went through the turret and slammed into the building behind it! It backed off behind the hill and the infantry moved into buildings. They fired from the windows but are quickly pinned down by machine gun fire. The AT gun fired a HE shell into the building destroying the window.
"Everyone, I need a sitrep."
"Imperials are pushing hard from the North and we're being pushed back!"
"This is squad fifteen! We've lost the East side of Hasselt but we're holding the Imperials at 300th street!"
"This is squad eighteen! We're holding the South side of Hasselt!"
"No enemy forces have been reported from the West side of the city."
"This is squad twelve! We're guarding squad Eighteen's left flank against the Imperials!"
"I retract my earlier statement! Imperials are attacking from the West! It looks to be a probing attack!"
"This is Sergeant Ward! I see something approaching from the sky!"
"From the sky? Can you identify?"
"Wait one... It has... four... wings. There looks to be an engine on the front."
"Sounds like one of those aeroplanes I keep hearing about in the news."
"An airplane? Is it one of ours?"
"I don't think so. I haven't heard anything about Gallia developing an airplane."
"Sergeant, is it one of ours?"
"Stand by. It's still pretty far out."
"Understood. Contact me immediately when you can identify."
"Copy that sir."
With squad 300 they are still engaging the Imperials. "Firing!"
BOOM!
"Try to keep collateral damage to a minimum!"
"More Imperials are moving down 300th street! A medium tank is with them!"
"Copy that! Lancers, get ready!"
The tank stopped well out of range and started shelling the building. Pieces of concrete, shattered glass and dust fell onto the road. One of the lancers tried to hit it but the lance fell short. He saw the turret turn towards him and he jumped away from the window. Two seconds later, the wall exploded inward!
"Okay, need a new plan of attack. You three, come with me!"
"Sir yes sir!"
The small team sprinted out of the building and down one of the alleyways. They ran into two Imperial shock troopers who opened fire as soon as they saw them. They killed two Gallians including the lancer. The two shock troopers dived into cover and fired back. They pinned the Imperials and tossed and grenade. They heard shouting and then it exploded! They backed up to the building and guarded the alleyway.
"Fall back around the corner!"
"Lieutenant! The airplanes are Imperial! Their color scheme matches and I can see Imperial markings on the wings!"
"Understood. I'll send the information to Colonel Adams."
"Sir! How do we shoot them down!?"
"When they attack aim for their engine. That's your best chance. Out."
"When the hell did the Imperials get an air force!?"
"I don't care about the 'when!' I want to know why nobody has said anything about it! They've had to use them against the Federation right!?"
"Cut the chatter! If those airplanes attack we'll just shoot'em down!"
Squad fifteen finished their retreat and took up new positions. When the Imperials pushed around the corner they were hit hard and fell back. To their front, Imperials are slowly pushing from building to building.
Bang!
One of the AT gun's crew dropped dead. The second crewmember looked for where the shot came from but he was killed as well. A third shot rang out and a machine gunner was killed. "Sniper!"
"Where!?"
"Somewhere down the road!"
"Down the road... He must be at the top of that building! Snipers! Do you have a shot!?"
"We're looking."
They scanned the roofs and windows looking for anything that would give the sniper's position away. They saw someone move across a roof before disappearing. The sniper swung out behind cover while in a crouch and fired. A sniper's head snapped back and he fell to the ground, his rifle falling to the road. The second sniper had seen his enemy for a split second and fired, he relocated to another window. He rested his rifle on the window seal and searched for the sniper.
He tuned everything out and focused on finding the sniper. He saw a quick flash of movement but held his fire. A helmet peaked around the corner and he nearly fired. The helmet dropped and the sniper appeared from the other side! He fired and a bullet slammed into the concrete causing him to flinch. He ducked down and waited a few seconds. He looked through his scope scanned the roof but couldn't find any sign of the sniper. He looked for a few more seconds before nodding and switching positions.
"Heads up! Those airplanes are coming in!"
"Roger that! Try and hit them with the machine guns!"
"They're coming in at too high of an angle! We can't hit them!"
Scouts took aim with their rifles and fired trying to hit its engine. Shock troopers sprayed 9mm rounds as the plane opened fire. Bullets ripped through the crew manning the AT gun and the machine gunners were killed! As it pulled up it drooped two small objects that exploded with deadly shrapnel! Those closest to them are wounded but not killed.
"Second one coming in!"
"Shoot it down!"
It was met with determined fire including a lance that, unfortunately, missed. This caused the pilot to veer off but before he got behind the buildings the sniper fired. The bullet hit the engine but didn't seem to do any immediate damage. The Imperials used this distraction to push forward. The armored car from before crested the hill and fired at the buildings blowing holes in them! The Imperials rushed forward and stormed into the buildings!
"Imperials in the building!"
Brooks turned around and shot an Imperial sending him falling back down the stairs! "We're going to fall back to the city square!"
"Understood ma'am!"
"Shock troopers lead the way!"
"Understood!"
Two shock troopers ran downstairs and gunfire soon followed! Brooks followed after them and took cover against the door frame. She peeked around and saw the armored car advancing with infantry. A lance slammed in front of it and it started to back up.
"Let's go!"
She fired at the Imperials while her squadmates sprinted into the alleys across the road. Behind her, squad 300 fell back down the street towards the city square. She sprinted across the road and into an alley. She followed it until she was back on the road.
"This is squad twelve! We're being pushed hard and are falling back! Squad eighteen you need to fall back or you'll be encircled!"
"Understood! We'll fall back to the city square!"
"Imperials are pushing through the West side! We can't hold them!"
"This is squad fifteen! We're falling back to the city square with squad 300!"
"Understood."
"More of those airplanes coming in!"
Brooks looked up and saw two diving. She crouched and fired. Her bullets didn't seem to have any effect but it did break away. A tank shell flew over it and slammed into the county side! The second one opened fire and she saw four objects fall away from it, four explosions followed shortly after. She sprinted up the road and saw a defensive position that was guarding one of the roads into the town square.
"Sergeant Brooks. It's good to see you."
"Lieutenant Langley, it's good to see you too."
"Sir! Report from the scouts; Imperial squad with a light tank in support are heading our way."
"Thank you. Get ready everyone! Sergeant, will you be joining us?"
"Sorry Lieutenant, I need to get back to my squad."
He nodded, "I think they're over there. Good luck Sergeant."
"You too Lieutenant." She jogged over to her squad who had taken up positions in the buildings and behind sandbags. An anti-tank gun was set up in the middle of the road and in front of it are two sandbag walls.
"Brooks."
"Jackson. Any word on the cavalry?"
"They've defeated the Imperial counter-attack. The Ninth Regiment will arrive in twenty minutes."
She nodded and crouched behind the sandbags with Jackson joining her. "Alright everyone. The Ninth Regiment is coming to relieve us. We just have to hold them off for twenty minutes."
"Lieutenant Jackson do you read me?"
"Loud and clear Lieutenant Lane. What do you need?"
"We'll be in the city square in two minutes. Squad twelve and squad 287 are holding the imperials off. You don't have to worry about an attack from the South. Over."
"That's great to hear Lieutenant. Out."
"Imperials incoming!"
"Firing!"
The AT gun fired sending a HE shell screaming toward the Imperials! It slammed into the road sending concrete flying and kicking up a cloud of dust! Two lances were fired and one hit the gun destroying it and blasting the crew onto their backs!
"Son of a bitch!"
"You two alright!?"
"We're fine!"
"Medium tank pushing down the street!"
"Don't worry, we're on it! Have some of this!"
Foosh! BOOM!
The lance hit the tank's armor at an angle. It stopped and fired at where the lance came from. Behind it, an armored car rolled out from the corner and fired. 20 mm shells destroyed the sandbag walls and killed anyone caught without cover.
Brooks sprinted behind a building while Jackson sprinted into a building and ran up to the third floor. "Nice of you to join us sir!"
Behind them, squad eighteen entered the square and spread out to reinforce the positions. Their tank reinforced squad fifteen and fired at the Imperial tank. The shell slammed into the turret face killing the gunner and loader, it backed off along with the armored car.
The Firefly moved up to where the AT gun was and fired its coax at the buildings. Richard went into one of the alleyways and climbed up a ladder to the roof of a building. She laid prone and looked for targets.
Ellis and Cole exited the building they were in and ducked behind the sandbags. Now, they could see the Imperials on the right side of the street and fired at them. They fired back and ducked into the closest building. Ellis fired off five shots before ducking down to reload. He and Cole took turns firing when the other was reloading allowing them to lay down constant fire.
"This is Lieutenant Newman, we are driving the Imperials from the South side of the city."
"This is Lieutenant Sharp speaking, squad twenty, we have halted the Imperial push from the West."
"This is squad 303! We're being pushed hard by an Imperial heavy tank!"
"Understood, we'll move to assist. Diver! Get us to squads 303's location!"
"Yes ma'am!"
Their tank backed up and headed to squad 303. It turned the corner, "Imperial heavy tank sighted! Range, fifty meters!"
"Fire!"
"Firing!"
The gun flashed and an AP shell slammed into the heavy tank's flat frontal armor! Smoke rose from the hole and the tank backed off firing its top turret!
"Ah!"
"You alright!?"
"Yeah! Caught some shrapnel in my chest! Nothing serious!"
"Firing!"
The next shell punched through its armor and fragmented inside killing the crew. The hatch opened up and the gunner and loader for the top turret climbed out. "Enemy tank destroyed!"
"Enemy MG in the third floor of the apartment building! Destroy it!"
"Firing!"
The shell destroyed the window the MG was located in! Two medium tanks turned the corner and fired! Both shells slammed into the Firefly killing the driver!
"Goddammit! Fire!"
One of the tanks was destroyed when its ammo was detonated blowing the sides of the tank out and the turret off! The second tank fired; the shell penetrated the gun mantlet destroying the breach killing the gunner and badly wounding Lane. The loader opened the hatch and tried to haul Lane out of the turret. "I need help over here!"
A scout sprinted over and climbed onto the tank. He helped pull Lane out of the tank and get her down. They carried her into the temporary HQ, "We need a medic!"
Two medics sprinted over and took Lane, "We got her!" They carried her into a room and laid her on a bed.
Back outside the situation was getting desperate. With no tanks or AT guns the Gallians only had lances to counter Imperial tanks but they couldn't get close enough to use them.
"This is squad twenty! Imperials are pushing us hard from the West! Request reinforcements!"
"Squad twenty this is squad 299 we'll send some of our men your way."
"Imperials are still pushing hard from the North! We can only delay them!"
"All squads located in Hasselt, the cavalry has arrived!"
From the West, Gallian light tanks with infantry riding on top slammed into the rear of the Imperials attacking Hasselt from the West! With Gallian forces flooding into Hasselt from the West the Imperials stop their attacks and fall back. Hasselt will remain in Gallia's hands.