Two weeks later
Fort Amatriain is the heart of the Gallian army. Soldiers are trained, equipped, and treated here. Tanks are repaired and rearmed. R&D is carried out by a fully equipped and funded team of best engineers Gallia has to offer. Generals talk strategy on how to win the war and what the overall situation is on the front lines. With the Imperial army rapidly occupying Gallia Fort Amatriain is a scene of chaos.
Soldiers sprint across the base either training or gearing up for battle. Drill instructors shout at new recruits as they do PT. Tanks roll into the repair shops to be repaired and rearmed. Officers and squads are briefed on their objectives and trucks carrying supplies and wounded flow in at a regular pace.
Chole jumped out of a truck and walked through the Fort. She had been told her squad was here and was hoping to find Lieutenant Bell. She bumped into someone, "Sorry."
"Chole?"
She turned and her eyes filled with surprise, "Jessica?"
Jessica hugged her, "It's good to see you Chole. And I told you, call me Jess."
Chole returned it, "Right, Jess. It's good to see you too. Why are you here though?"
Jess broke the hug, "We received orders to head here for a transfer. Don't know what unit we're transferring to through. What about you?"
"I'm tiring to find Lieutenant Bell."
"He's probably in a briefing. Best guess would be that tent right there."
"Thanks. We'll talk later."
"I'll hold you to that. See you later Chole."
They waved good-bye. Chole walked over and poked her head into the tent that Jess pointed out. There are two people in the tent talking to each other. "Lieutenant Bell?"
The man at the desk looked up. He had short black hair, green eyes, and the rank of Colonel. The other man had short brown hair and glasses covered his brown eyes. She guessed he was between the ages of twenty-two and twenty-eight and his rank was Lieutenant.
"Corporal Brooks, yes?"
"Yes sir. Sorry for the interruption but I'm trying to find Lieutenant Bell."
"Lieutenant Bell is dead corporal. He was killed at Ghirlandaio."
Her eyes winded in surprise. "Does that mean sergeant Hawk is in command of squad fifteen?"
"He was honorably discharged due to his wounds corporal."
Chole stood there in shock for a moment. Bell was dead and Hawk was discharged? Hawk was the toughest son of a bitch she knew and Bell seemed like a good guy and commanding officer.
Realizing she was still in the presence of two superior officers she saluted. "Sir, who is in command of squad fifteen?"
The Colonel returned the salute, "That's something I was going to talk to you about. Since you're already here it saves some time. This is Lieutenant Bret Jackson, as of now he is Squad fifteen's new CO."
"Sir," she saluted.
"At ease. Corporal your squad has been involved in fierce ever since the fall of Ghirlandaio. Counting you there are only twelve members left in Squad fifteen and you have seniority over the other Corporals. I'm promoting you to sergeant Brooks. You'll be my second."
If Brooks was surprised she didn't show it, "Sir!"
"Excellent. Let's get on with the briefing. Sergeant, you can stay if you like. The Ninth Army was badly mauled by the Imperials in the engagements after Ghirlandaio. So much so that it has been officially dissolved and its units divided up between other armies. The Sixth Regiment was so badly mauled that it was also dissolved and the squads divided up. Squads fifteen, twelve, and eighteen, now make up the newly formed First Mechanized Company."
"I wasn't aware Gallia could field any mechanized units, sir."
"We have exactly one Lieutenant and you're it."
"...Understood, sir."
"You've been folded into the Ninth Regiment which is now under my command. We are apart of the newly formed First army under command of a General Everhart."
"They made a new army that consists of one regiment?"
"Yes. I don't know who came up with the idea but I don't care."
"Sir, if we are the first mechanized units Gallia has we're going to have a lot of eyes on us."
"Indeed sergeant. I suggest you don't disappoint high command."
"What are our orders sir?"
"You'll be reinforced by the end of the day. I suggest you train up and get to know each other. I have no idea when our first action will be. Dismissed."
"Sir!"
Brooks and Jackson exited the tent and made their way over to where Squads fifteen, twelve, and eighteen are. Jackson was surprised that Brooks didn't react as strongly as he thought she would.
"Did you know anyone in your squad Brooks?"
"Not really sir. I was transferred to it just before we went to Ghirlandaio. I knew Hawk and Moss pretty well but no one else."
"You'll be happy to know Moss made a full recovery. He's still apart of the squad."
"Good to hear sir."
"You plan to get to know the other squads?"
"Maybe, maybe not. If that's okay with you sir."
"I don't mind Brooks, not at all."
It's been a week since we were folded into the Ninth Regiment. To my surprise, we are actually a mechanized company with armored personal carriers. They're basically trucks but they're armored, have two front wheels and a set of tracks, a machine gun, and they can hold eight people. We've started calling them 'half-tracks' and it stuck.
I've talked to the Lieutenants and their seconds in each squad and from first impressions, they know what they're doing.
There have been a few... disagreements about having Militia in our ranks but nothing too serious. I don't know why there's a rivalry between the Army and the Militia we're all fighting for the same thing.
On the topic of the war, it's not going well. We've lost a little over half the country in three weeks. Whoever their commander is he's damn good. From what I've been hearing the Imperials are pushing into Vasal. If they take The Great Vasal Bridge they'll be knocking on Randgriz's gates and everyone knows it. Despite this, we have yet to see combat.
Inside one of the many buildings at Amatriain squad fifteen sat at one of the many tables eating lunch. Rationing had been in effect ever since the start of EWII so the food didn't taste amazing but it was far superior to MREs.
"Hahahahaha!"
"Dude, was that supposed to be a joke?"
"If that was a joke it's an insult to all jokes in the world."
"Oh come! It was funny to me!"
"Yeah but, you're weird."
"I'm not weird!"
"Yes, you are."
"No, I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm not!"
"You are!"
"I'm not!"
"Ladies you're both pretty. Can you shut up now? I'm trying to enjoy lunch."
"You actually think this tastes good?"
"It doesn't, but it's better than what I had in the field."
"Speaking of the field, sergeant when are we going to see some action?"
"I told you before Justin I don't know. Jackson doesn't know either so don't ask him," Brooks snapped.
"Why are you so snappy today Brooks?"
"I'm just tired of answering the same question fifty times a day."
Blake raised his hands, "Alright. Fair point."
"Hey Brooks, You were at Ghirlandaio right?"
"Yeah, what about it?"
"Are the rumors true?"
"What rumors?"
"That a woman led the assault on Ghirlandaio."
"The empire doesn't let women into their military though," Blake pointed out.
"I know. But with how quickly the rumor spread I'm wondering if it's true."
"Alright Sara I'll sate your curiosity. Yes the rumors are true. A woman in all black with silver hair led the Imperial's assault."
"Silver hair?"
"Yeah. I don't think I've ever seen anybody with silver hair."
"Genetics?"
"Good as guess as any."
"You take a shot at her Chole?"
"I did Sara. Crazy ass engineer knocked her out of the way."
"An engineer? The hell was he doing at the head of the assault?"
"No idea. He had some balls through, I can respect that. Any more rumors you want me to prove?"
"Yeah, some of the soldiers talked about a 'stream of bullets.' Know anything about that?"
"Yeah, that woman had a hell of a gun. It had the firepower of a machine gun and the accuracy of a rifle."
"You're fucking kidding me right?"
"Wish I was Justin."
"But, a machine gun is too heavy for a single infantryman. There would have to be a crew of at least two."
"She sure as hell didn't have a crew with her. I guess it's experimental and going through field testing."
"Well, let's hope it's never mass-produced."
"ATTENTION!"
Everyone in the mess snapped to attention as Colonel Adams stormed in.
"Ladies and gentlemen the Imperials just took the Great Vasal Bridge! Our orders are to take it back," he thundered. "We will be working with the Third Militia Regiment and the Vasal Defense Battalion! Squad commanders there will be a briefing in five minutes! Gear up people! We're going to war!"
"Sir yes sir!"
"That doesn't sound like the voice of those ready to go to war! GIVE ME ONE BETTER!"
"SIR YES SIR!"
"Now that is what I want to hear! Get moving!"
Everyone stood up and spirited out of the mess. Adams watched with a smirk, "Still got it old man."
Five minutes later squads fifteen, twelve, and eighteen were ready for combat. "Alright ladies listen up! We'll be assaulting the West side of Vasal along with the Third Militia Regiment! The Vasal Defensive Battalion is going to make sure no Imperials break out of Vasal and make a run for Randgrize! Our objective is to capture any camps we find on our way to the bridge!"
"This is urban combat people so it's going to be a pain in the ass. Once you dismount from the half-tracks two fire teams will move ahead of us and start clearing buildings so we don't get ambushed. Lance Corporal Thomson you will lead one of these fireteams. Pick five soldiers to form your team, I suggest shock troopers."
"Sir!"
"Corporal Cole you will do the same."
"Sir!"
"The rest of the squad will stay on high alert. Watch your six, check your corners, and keep your eyes peeled!"
There was a rumbling sound that slowly grew louder. At the entrance to the base, three tanks rolled in but they weren't the standard Gallian tank. They bore a striking resemblance to a Federate tank but had a lower profile and a long-barreled gun. One rolled to a halt in front of Jackson and he started climbing it.
"Lieutenant, where'd you get the tank?"
"This is the newest model to roll off the assembly lines. The manufacturers call it a letter and some numbers but we call it a 'Firefly' and it's a beautiful piece of work."
"Mount up people! You can gawk at the tank later," Brooks snapped.
M1PC
Weight: 7 tons
Length: 6.05m
Height: 2.12m
Width: 2.20m
Troop capacity: Eight
Top speed: 55km/h
Arms: 7.62mm machine gun
At the outbreak of EWII, the Imperial army showed how effective mechanized infantry could be. The M1PC was designed to rapidly carry troops and equipment to the front lines but internal affairs kept it from entering production.
With the Empire rolling across Europa and tensions between Gallia and the Empire rising the army finally authorized production of the M1PC.
The M1PC, literally meaning Model one Personal Carrier, is based on the chassis of an EW1 scout car and it was heavily modified to carry troops and protect them. Only fifty were completed before the Empire declared war.
M1935 'Firefly'
Weight: 34 tons
Length: 6.28m
Height: 2.85m
Width: 3.55m
Top speed: 37km/h
Arms: 76mm cannon, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun
With EWII starting and tensions rising with the Empire certain Generals wanted to modernize the army's tank force. Based on the Federation's 'Minute' the Medium 1935/M1935/'Firefly' was to replace Gallia's previous mainline tank.
Production of the tank was stalled by army officers who did not see the need for a more aggressive type of tank and the government who didn't want to provoke the Empire.
Production of the M1935 was finally authorized as war with the Empire became more and more likely. It had a superior engine, a superior gun, and slightly superior armor compared to the Empire's 'Fatherland' medium tank. The long barrel 76 could punch through the heaviest tank armor making it deadly to even the Empire's heaviest tanks.
A mere fifteen had been completed before the Empire invaded.
It should be noted that 'Firefly' is a nickname for the tank do to the bright muzzle flash of the main gun.