It has been two days since we arrived at Avro base and our company has settled in. Nothing has happened in these past two days so I don't have much to write about. One thing of note is that the food here is actually decent. I guess that is to be expected as we aren't close to the front lines so the cooks have time to prepare proper meals.
Brooks tapped her pen against her chin. She's in her company's barracks and besides Grant, who is sleeping at the moment, she's alone.
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!
She looked toward the tent flap waiting for Jackson to walk in and tell them to get ready for a mission but after ten seconds she turned her attention back to her book. Grant had other ideas. He started to snore, loudly. Brooks glared at him for all the good it did. He stopped and Brooks went to write in her book, only for him to start snoring again. Brooks stopped and looked toward him. He stopped again and Brooks waited for a few seconds before she tried to write only for him to start snoring even louder.
"Oh for fuck sakes."
She grabbed her book and walked out of the tent. She shielded her eyes from the sun and a tank rolled past when she dropped her arm. The base is a hive of activity with soldiers marching in formation, or doing PT. She could see a group of five trucks roll into the base and start unloading their supplies. She could hear the crack of rifles and rapid firing submachine guns along with explosions from lances or grenades.
"Just another day in paradise."
"Sergeant Brooks?"
"What do you need soldier?"
"Lieutenant Jackson wants to see you. He's in the command tent."
"Thank you private." He saluted and walked off.
She quickly made her way to the command tent. She passed by dozens of soldiers doing everything from cleaning their equipment to playing different games with their squadmates to keep them entertained. She entered the command tent and Lt. Jackson, Lane, Newman, and Sharp along with their seconds were already here.
"Jackson."
"Nice of you to join us Brooks."
"So we're all here, where is the base commander?"
"He was supposed to be here already," Sargent Dalton said.
"Relax. He's a busy man. Probably has a dozen different people asking him a dozen different things daily."
"You're right Lieutenant and it's a pain in the ass."
"Sir!"
"At ease. Sorry to keep you waiting so let's get straight to business. The Imperials have launched an attack focused on retaking central Gallia."
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!
"That explains the artillery."
"The First Army is moving to reinforce the Third army. Your company is to move out within the hour. That's all I was told. Colonel Adams will fill you in on the rest when you get to the front. Dismissed."
"Sir."
Within thirty minutes the company had packed up all their equipment and were moving out. The sound of artillery grew quieter the further they got from Avro base and soon only the rumble of the half-trucks and tanks filled their ears.
"So... anyone got any stories?"
"I got one!"
"No."
"Come on!"
"You tell the same story every time."
"It's a funny story!"
"It was funny the first time. After we heard it the tenth time it was stale."
"Hey, Brooks why don't you tell us one of your stories."
"One of my stories?"
"Yeah. You've been in the army longer than most of the squad. Besides, any story you have is better than hearing the same one for the twelfth time."
"Alright I get it. Guess I need a new story to tell."
"Alright, I have a story to tell. Get comfortable, this is a long one."
One hour later they arrived at the forward operating base. They could faintly hear the sounds of battle over the rumbling of engines and the shouting of soldiers. The half-tracks and tanks rolled to a halt and they dismounted.
"You're the first mechanized?"
"The one and only."
"Colonel Adams is waiting for you in that tent. He only wants to see the squad leaders."
"Alright, where are the barracks?"
"Those tents over there. Just find yourself a free bed and make yourself at home."
"Thank you Lieutenant. Get settled in people we'll be back with the details soon."
Jackson, Lane, Newman, and Sharp made their way to the tent that the Lieutenant pointed out. The though open the tent flap and found Colonel Adams examining a map of the surrounding area. He turned to face them, "Gentlemen, its good to have you with us."
"And lady," Lane pointed out.
"We're glad to be here sir. What's the situation?"
"The Imperials are launching a full-scale offensive in central Gallia. The third army has been taking a beating for the last hour and command has ordered us to move in and reinforce them. If the Imperials break us here the whole front will collapse and the Empire will have a clear route to Randgriz."
"Will we ain't gonna let that happen."
"Slow down Lieutenant our company is not going to engage the Imperials."
"What?"
"Why sir?"
"General Everhart wants our company to be a rapid reaction force that can reinforce or exploit breakthroughs in the Imperial lines."
"The company won't be happy about this sir."
"I know but these are our orders. You don't have to like them just carry them out. Dismissed."
"Sir!"
They exited the tent and found the base much more active than when they entered the tent. A tank nearly ran over Lane's foot as it rolled by quickly followed by its squad. Another tank rolled passed a few seconds later followed by a truck. As they approached the barracks they could hear the shouting of sergeants and lieutenants along with the thumping of boots against the dirt. They entered the tent and found that all of the soldiers, save for their squads, had already left.
"There is a lot of commotion Jackson, we moving out?"
"No, our company is going to be a rapid reaction force. We will only be deployed if the line looks to be breaking or if the Imperial line is breaking."
"Sounds like we're stealing from the Imperial playbook."
"Huh, he has a point."
"Well, it has worked for the Imperials so far. Let's see how they react when we use their own tactics against them."
"How are you all okay with this? I signed up to fight Imperials, not sit around on standby!"
"Private do not mistake my calmness. When we are called to the front, and we will be, we'll show those Imperials why you don't mess with Gallians."
"Orders are orders private. We have to carry them out whether we like them or not."
He huffed but didn't say anything as he went back to cleaning his rifle.
"Get some rest people, the army will call us when they need us."
We've only been at the FOB for a day but the fighting is already intensifying. Reinforcements are steadily flowing in along with wounded from the front lines. We've helped out where we can and from what the soldiers have told us I have a general idea of what is happening on the front lines. At the beginning of the battle the Imperials slowly pushed us back but after three hours of fighting the battle has turned into a stalemate and neither side has the advantage.
"First mechanized company mount up! We're moving out!"
Brooks shot out of bed at the shout. She rubbed her eyes and found the tent in chaos. Soldiers scrambled out of bed and grabbed their gear before rushing out of the tent. Others rushed into the tent to grab their gear before rushing out again.
"Come on! The Imperials aren't going to wait for us!"
Brooks grabbed her uniform and quickly dressed. She garbed her gear and rushed out of the tent. She skidded to a halt when a tank rolled by and then rushed to the nearest half-track. She climbed in and was met with a single question.
"What's the situation sergeant?"
"Unfortunately, I don't know. Either the Imperials are breaking through our lines or we're being sent to break through their lines. Hopefully, its the former."
"Well, whatever is going on its got the whole base fired up."
Soldiers rushed between the tents, tanks rolled past with soldiers riding on top and following behind them, and trucks rolled out of the base carrying supplies while others carried troops. Her radio crackled to life.
"Sergeant Brooks do you copy?"
"Loud and clear Jackson. What's the situation?"
"The Imperials are breaking through our center and right flank. The company is being split up. Squads twelve and twenty are moving to reinforce the center while squads fifteen and eighteen are moving to our left flank."
"We're not moving to reinforce our right flank?"
"No. The Imperials on our left flank are starting to break. We need to move quickly if we are to exploit this. If the Imperials break us here they will have a clear shot at Randgriz. We cannot let that happen."
"You can count on us sir. Alright listen up! The Imperials are pushing hard on the center and right flank of our line. Squads twelve and twenty are going to reinforce the center so if you're in either of those squads get the hell out of my half-track!"
"Now, the rest of us are moving to our left flank. The Imperials on that flank are breaking are we are going to smash through their line! Once we do that we can flank their center force and allow our forces to regroup for a counter-attack. Any questions?"
No one spoke up.
"Outstanding! Driver, take us out!"
"Rolling."
The half-track pulled out behind squad eighteen's tank and followed it out of the base. Once they exited the base they passed the tank and headed toward the front line.