The armored vehicles of the Third Mechanized Division raced across the open plains. The infantry on the tanks and M1PCs held on as for their lives as they knew they would be left behind if they fell off. Jackson's tank hit a small divot nearly throwing Sharp off. It was only thanks to Sara's quick reaction that he didn't fall off. "Son of a bitch!"

"Hang on tighter Sharp!"

"What the hell do you think I'm doing!?" They both cussed as the tank turned nearly throwing both of them off. "I want off this wild wide!"

"We all do," Hawkins yelled, "If you want to jump you're more than welcome!"

"Hell no! My chances with the Imperials are far better!"

Brooks steadied herself and used the tank's turret to stabilize her arms so she can look through her binoculars. It's difficult as every little movement of the tank affects her. There's a sudden and bright flash followed by an explosion as one of the tanks is destroyed its burning wreck a light in the darkness. Two more flashes follow, thankfully, no vehicles are destroyed this time.

"What the hell was that!?"

"No idea! One of our tanks just went up!"

The Firefly's MG opened up followed by the thunder of its main gun which blinded Brooks. A shell screamed in and bounced off the side whistling as it sailed into the darkness. "DISMOUNT!" They jumped off the tank which had slowed considerably since the first shot. Brooks hit the dirt and scanned trying to find targets, but the darkness hid the Imperials. Another tank off their left is destroyed and Brooks watches lines of tracers converge on where the muzzle flash was, three tank shells follow. Suddenly, all the tanks hold their fire, and the air becomes still. Now, all they can hear is the rumbling of the tank's engine beside them. "I can't see a fucking thing. Anybody have flares?"

A sniper spoke up, "I do ma'am. I only have three though." Brooks nodded, "Use it. Lieutenant, the sniper with us is going to launch a flare. Over."

"Good thinking Brooks. I'll tell the other Squad leaders to do the same. Out."

"Ready ma'am."

"Do it."

With a low 'thunk' the flare flies into the air. A few seconds later, a small chute is deployed and the flare bursts to light illuminating everything around it in red light. Before their eyes, the Imperial positions are revealed along with so much more. She can see the anti-tank guns and hastily built fighting positions. Further back are trucks and half-tracks which are caring supplies, towing heavy weapons, or having soldiers loaded into them. Finally, an Imperial supply hub is revealed to be what all of the Imperials are focused around. Their division moved so fast they've caught the Imperials trying to evacuate one of their main supply hubs. They have done to the Imperials what the Imperials have done to them and to the Federation.

With the positions revealed, the Imperials opened up! The Imperial line lit up with muzzle flashes, "Keep your heads down!"

"That's an Imp supply depot! We take it and we'll severely weaken the Imperials on this front!" Jackson's tank moved while the MG opened up. It stopped, fired, and moved again. "We have to take it first! The Imps aren't going to let it go without a fight!" To demonstrate that point, a Firefly in front of them burst into flames. "Sniper! Aim for those anti-tank gun crews!"

"On it!" He looked through his scope and sighted his target. He slowed his breathing and turned out all of the gunfire and explosions around him. He saw the loader reach for a shell and he fired. The round hit center mass and the loader toppled forward. A second later, the gunner came into view and grabbed the shell. He squeezed the trigger and watched the gunner's head snap back and his body collapse. "One anti-tank gun decrewed!"

"Excellent! Lieutenant Jackson, AT gun to your ten is decrewed but the gun is still operational. Range is two hundred and fifty meters. Over."

"Copy that." The turret rotated and the gun fired. The HE shell destroyed the AT gun. "AT gun destroyed." A lancer fired from the Imp lines knocking out a light tank. The sniper followed the smoke trail and waited for the lancer to pop up again. When he did the sniper fired putting a bullet straight through his head. He cycled the bolt and searched for another target. An anti-tank gun fired destroying another Firefly. He fired killing loader and then he killed the gunner. Then, he spotted the supply trucks and half-tracks leaving the base. "Ma'am! Imperials are taking whatever they can from the depot before they retreat!"

"We need to speed this up!"

"Agreed!" Brooks looked behind them and saw a light tank rolling forward. "When that tank passes us use it as mobile cover!" Its short barrel gun fired while its MG sprayed rounds at the Imperial line. Brooks and her fireteam rolled behind it, stood up, and moved with it. They slowly moved forward when the tank suddenly stopped. Brooks peaked out around it, careful not to touch the radiator, and fired. Sharp crouched next to her and fired.

The tank's commander's hatch opened, and the Commander climbed out. He shouted into the turret, "Come on!" His loader climbed out and they jumped down and quickly took cover. "What the hell happened!?"

"Fucking lance destroyed the transmission and killed my driver!"

"Dammit!" Brooks looked around and saw an M1PC moving forward with a fireteam firing from the troop compartment. "We're moving to that half-track! Ready!? MOVE!" They sprinted across open ground ducking as red tracers zipped over their heads. Hawkins is hit in the thigh and slams into the dirt. His face is dirtied and marked with small cuts that start to bleed. "Ah dammit!" He stood up, ignoring the burning pain, and sprinted to the half-track.

"Hawkins! You alright!?"

"I'm fine! Anybody have any Ragnaid!?"

"We're all out!"

"Damn! Any bandages!?"

"Here!" Someone inside the half-track tossed him a bandage. "Thanks!" He quickly wrapped his wound.

"What the hell are you still doing in the half-track!?"

"It provides us good cover sergeant!"

"I don't fucking care! If this half-track is destroyed, you're all dead! DISMOUNT NOW!" The soldiers quickly followed her order and dismounted. They took cover around the M1PC as it slowly moved forward. The machine gunner fired in bursts as the Imperials. He swept his gun across the Imperial defensive positions killing two Imps. Rifle caliber rounds pinged off the armor and the driver ducked behind the steering wheel.

A light tank in front of them and to their left stopped when something exploded in front of them. Its turret rotated left and a shell tore through the chassis detonating the ammo. A Firefly saw this and rotated its turret to engage the enemy medium. The Imp tank fired its shell tore through the engine of the M1PC. Its MG killed the gunner and the driver. The Firefly fired lighting up the area around it. The shell punched through the frontal armor of the Imp tank and black smoke poured from the hole. The Firefly fired again this time at the turret. Satisfied the tank was disabled, the Firefly turned its gun on the Imps to its front.

"Why the hell isn't this thing moving!?"

"Driver and gunner are the dead and the engine is a mangled piece of scrap!"

"Dammit! Alright, split into two fire teams and move to those tanks! While the first fireteam moves the second covers them!"

"First fireteam with me! Sergeant! On your word!"

"GO!" Brooks and her fireteam laid down covering fire while the first fire team sprinted to a Firefly. Brooks looked and saw that they had made it to the Firefly and are slowly advancing. "Sara, Sharp, Hawkins you're with me! You four stay here and give us cover fire! Once we reach that tank you'll move behind that light tank. We'll give you cover fire once we reach the tank! Understood!?"

"Yes ma'am!"

"Let's move!" They sprinted out of cover and reached the tank in a few seconds. They took a few seconds to catch their breath. "Let's give them covering fire!" Brooks signaled the third fireteam and they moved. "They're starting to fall back!"

"The tanks are pushing forward. Let's move; we'll occupy the Imp positions!" They sprinted out from behind the tank and dived into cover. The cover is just a small dug-out position and laying prone is the only way to get any form of cover out of it. Their armor continued to move forward and soon pushed past the supply base. "Squad fifteen rally at the front of that base. We're going to clear it."

"Negative sergeant we're continuing the push. Other squads coming up behind us will secure the base."

"Understood Lieutenant. Squad mount up; we're continuing the push! Let's get into the half-track!" Brooks and her fireteam mounted up into a half-track and soon their armored force is moving again.

"Lieutenant, what's your status?"

"We're making good progress sir. Have the rear units secure that Imperial supply base?"

"They have Lieutenant. They're in the process of loading up the captured supplies now."

"That's great news. How's the offensive going?"

"We're pushing on all fronts. Our progress in Fouzen has been slowed by an armored train. Reports indicate its Major General Gregor's personal unit."

"An armored train? Do they have the firepower to take it out?"

"It doesn't matter. Whether Fouzen falls or not your objective remains the same: Encircle the Imperials inside Fouzen."

"Understood sir. We'll get it done. Out." He turned out and brought up his binoculars. Sadly, it's impossible to see anything through the darkness. He lowered his binoculars and silently cussed whoever thought it was a good idea to attack at night. It gave them the element of surprise when they started the offensive but now, it's a hindrance. Of course, the Imps are having the same problem.

"How are we looking for ammo?"

"We're ready to go sir!"

"Good. I have a feeling we'll need every shell and bullet we got." The tank tilted forward indicating they're going downhill. "All vehicles halt." His tank slowed to a halt and he brought up his binoculars again. "Let's see. Fouzen is at the top of that hill. So the river should be around there."

"I need some snipers to fire flares in front of our force."

"Understood Lieutenant. Four snipers moving to the front."

"Ah, I don't like this."

"I don't like it either. Keep scanning for targets."

"Ha. If you think I'm taking my eye away from this gunsight you're wrong."

"All squad leaders be advised; we're firing our flares now."

"Infantry dismount." The soldiers on Jackson's tank jumped off and laid prone. A few seconds later, the flares exploded burning away the darkness and revealing the Imperials. Jackson quickly searched for a target, "Anti-tank gun off our ten!" Both sides opened fire and hundreds of bullets filled the air. Tracers from the MGs created lines of red or orange and bright flashes from both sides indicating the firing of tank cannons or AT guns.

"Firing!" The tank rocked as an HE shell screamed out of the barrel. His gunner's aim is true, and the AT gun is turned into scrap. "Direct hit! New target MG position at our eleven!"

"I see it! Firing!" The MG disappeared in a cloud of fire and dirt. "Target destroyed!" Machine gun rounds pinged off the hull and the tank shuttered violently! "That was a bounce! Enemy light tank sighted! Firing!" The AP shell penetrated the Imp tank's gun mantlet and the tank started backing off. Another one of their tanks fired destroying it outright.

"Infantry can't push forward! Those MGs are keeping them pinned!"

"Target the MGs then! If you see a target don't wait for my approval! Just fire!"

"Understood! MG nest at twelve o'clock! Firing!"

"MG nest destroyed!"

"Infantry are pushing forward. Driver, move us forward slowly."

"Understood sir." The tank lurched as it slowly started moving. Jackson is still turned out so he can easily see targets. He's keeping his head down as rounds ping of his tank's armor. The coaxial machine gun opened fire sending red tracers towards the Imps. A light tank off their left exploded in a fireball! Jackson ducked back into the turret and pulled the hatch down. "Find that AT gun!"

"I see it! Firing!" Jackson unbuttoned as the gun fired. "Short! Elevate ten meters!"

"Understood! Firing!" This time the HE shell obliterated the anti-tank gun. "Direct hit!"

"We have Imperials on the other side of the river!" Jackson raised his binoculars and saw multiple muzzle flashes across the river. A practically bright muzzle flash followed by an explosion a few meters off their left demanded his attention. "Enemy tank at our eight!" The turret started to rotate and a shell flew overhead. "Get us moving! They have our range!" The hull rotated and the tank increased speed. "Firing!"

"Short!"

"Adjusting!" A shell slammed into the tank! "Everyone okay!?"

"We're good sir! But that shell broke our track!" The diver climbed out and sprinted to the back of the tank. The cannon fired again, and he saw a gout of flame shoot up across the river. He quickly started working on fixing the track.

"I need flares across the river!"

"Sir! Our infantry has taken the Imperial positions in front of us!"

"Excellent!" The tanks shuttered as a shell bounced off its frontal armor! "Driver! How long!?"

"Ten to fifteen minutes sir!"

"That's too long!" He jumped down and crouched next to his driver. "What can I do to help!?" He handed him a tool, "Take the track off at the front!"

"Got it!" He quickly got to work while the driver climbed back inside. "Got it!"

"Get clear sir!" The tank started to back up until most of the track was off. "That's good! Stop!" The tank stopped and he got out. "Help me take the damaged road wheels off!" While they worked to fix the tank the main cannon and MG kept firing.

"I see the Imperials on the other side of the river!"

"Thank god for flares. Hit that medium tank."

"Firing!"

"Excellent shot; target destroyed." Vellers stayed low as rounds pinged off the turret. "Infantry are trying to advance. Move up slowly and let's assist them."

"Understood sir."

"You're free to engage targets as you see them."

"Understood sir. Anti-tank gun sighted across the river. Firing! AT gun destroyed!"

"We have a heavy tank to our front! It just destroyed one of our lights!"

"Rotating!"

"It got another one!"

"I see the bastard. On the way!"

"Excellent shot. Target destroyed." Vellers continued to scan for priority targets while his gunner continued to engage. In front of them, their infantry is slowly pushing forward but they're taking heavy fire from the other side of the river. "There's some type of autocannon on the other side of the river! It's tearing our boys apart!"

"I see it! Firing!"

"If the massive fireball is any indication, you got it!"

"Sergeant Vellers, I have a few fireteams trying to secure a bridge across the river. Your support would be greatly appreciated. Over."

"Understood. We'll move to assist. Out. Driver, turn to our ten o'clock and get us to the bridge."

"Understood sir." They headed for the bridge firing at Imperials across the river all the way. "There's a light tank on the bridge. Take it out."

"I see it. On the way!" Vellars watched the Imp tank burst into flames. Seconds later, it exploded blasting the turret hundreds of meters into the air and blowing the hull apart. "Excellent shot."

"Small problem sir, we can't move across the bridge and support the infantry."

"We can support them from this side of the river. Lay down suppressing fire. They'll be exposed while they're crossing the bridge." His gunner fired the MG for three seconds before firing the main cannon. This kept the Imperial's heads down, but they can only pin the Imps on one side of the bridge. This changed when a light tank rolled up and fired its mortar. The explosive blast destroyed some of the Imps positions and it promptly opened up with its MG. With two tanks supporting, the infantry quickly crossed the bridge and engaged the Imps on the other side.

"We need to move that tank. Diver, get us close."

"On it sir."

"What's the plan?"

"Do we have a tow rope?"

"It should be on the left side sir." When the tank stopped Vellers dismounted. He grabbed the cable, hooked it on his tank, and then hooked it on the Imperial tank. He climbed back into the turret, "Reverse driver." The tank lurched and then jerked forward as it started pulling the light tank. It took a few minutes, but soon the tank is moved out of the way and the Gallian light tank rolled across the bridge. Veller's tank followed shortly afterward and engaged.

Across the river, the Gallian's push is running out of steam. Between stubborn Imperial defenders to their front and heavy fire from the other side of the, river their attack is stalling out. The Imperials have noticed this and are starting to counterattack. "We have to keep pushing!"

"The Imperials have us stalled sir! We have to beat off their counterattack first!" Richard pressed herself as close to the ground as she could. She picked off the Imps with her rifle as they advanced with mechanized support. An armored car is staying back supporting their advance. "Somebody destroy that fucking armored car!" A lancer stood to a crouch and fired. He missed and the smoke trail gave away his position; the armored car fired at his position killing him. "Son of a- where the hell are our tanks!?" As if summoned, a light tank rolled up and fired destroying the armored car. "About time you showed up!"

The tank fired its mortar killing two Imperials are forcing the others to scatter and hit the deck. It fired its mortar again and the Gallians started pushing forward with the tank. Its machine gun rattled sending a constant stream of tracers towards the Imperials. A shell screamed in from the left and destroyed it. "Dammit! It's going to be hell trying to advance with the Imps holding the other side of the river!"

"We have forces trying to secure the other side! That should take some fire off of us!"

"Just because it 'should' doesn't mean it will!"

"Quit your bitching! We have cut off the Imperials on Fouzen! To do that, we have to secure both sides of the river! LET'S GET IT DONE!"

He stood up despite his fellow soldiers' protests and is killed. "Sarge!"

"There's nothing we can do! He's dead! And we'll be too unless we find some solid cover!"

"Solid cover!? It's open terrain out here!"

"I know!" He crawled over to his fallen sergeant and grabbed the radio. "I need tank support! Imperials gave us pinned and are pushing forward!"

"Corporal this is Lieutenant Sharp. I'm repositioning to assist. Out."

"We have tank support incoming! Keep your heads down until they arrive!"

"Don't have to tell me twice!"

Their fireteam is taking cover around the destroyed light tank. The corporal rolled backed to the tank and hugged its right side. Ignoring the heat, he moved to the front of the tank. He fired at the advancing Imperials killing two before ducking down and reloading. He readied a rifle grenade, fired, and ducked back into cover as a hail of fire came his way. He crouched and fired around the tank. Bullets kicked up dirt or through sparks as they landed around him. Behind him, another scout moved up and crouched beside him. He fired while the corporal reloaded.

"Where's that tank support!?"

"I don't know sir!"

A shell slammed into the Imperial advance and they saw two bodies fly into the air. They looked behind them and saw a Firefly engaging. "Ask and you shall receive!" Four infantry dismounted from the tank and took cover behind it. The tank rolled forward with its MG blazing. Its main gun fired again and it stopped. Am M1PC rolled pasted it and stopped allowing the infantry to dismount. Then, it backed off but still provided fire. Finally, a light tank rolled forward and fired its mortar before backing off and letting the Firefly take the lead. With the ad hoc armored force assembled, they slowly advanced on the Imp positions with infantry support. The Imperials fell back, and the Gallians are on the offensive again. At least, they are on this side of the river.

"Lieutenant! Just received a call for assistance from Vellers! The Imperials are threatening to push them back across the bridge!"

"Tell him we'll be there as soon as we can! Chase! How much longer!?"

"We're good to go sir!"

"Good! We have a river to secure!" They climbed back into their tank and started moving. The captain's voice came over the radio. "All squad leaders I need a Sitrap."

"This is Lieutenant Lane. We've met stiff resistance along the river and our progress has stalled. Over."

"This is Lieutenant Newman. We've secured a bridge and have crossed the river but we're being pushed back. Over"

"This is Lieutenant Sharp. I've formed an ad hoc formation and we're pushing the Imperials back but we're meeting stiff resistance. Over."

"This is "Lieutenant Jackson. My tank is moving to assist our forces on the other side of the river. Over."

"Lieutenants, contact your seconds and fall back. Repeat, fall back."

"Fall back? Why?"

"Imperials are hitting our front with one hell of an armored counter-attack. We're being pushed back and you're in danger of being cut off. Fall back to that Imperial supply depot you captured. Out."

"Son of a bitch! Sergeant, do you copy?"

"I read you Lieutenant."

"We're falling back to the Imperial supply depot. I don't care how you get the word out but get it out!" He could hear the frustration and anger in her reply. "Understood sir!"

The word that they're retreating is slowly passed around. Fireteams slowly started to pull back and the Imperials started to push. Across the bridge, the Gallian fireteams are already falling back and the order to fall back expedited it. They retreated across the bridge letting the Imperials retake it. Sadly, in the chaos and confusion that is battle, many are unaware of the order to retreat. Some are told by others who are retreating. Others spot their comrades retreating and alert the others near them. Many do not and are left either to die, become POWs, or try to escape Imperial capture.