Later in the night, the Imperial camp has been fully occupied by Gallian soldiers. Any important documents were already burned or taken by the Imperials which is unfortunate. Their wounded have been placed in one of the tents where their medics are treating them. A few scouts are watching for a possible Imperial counterattack while others are scavenging the camp for ammo, Ragnaid, and heavy weapons. Inside the main tent, the various sergeants from the squads in the attack have gathered.

"We're moving out soon so knowing the strength of your squad is vital." He pulled out his map, "Now, our objective is here where we will meet with our armor and dive to the coast. We have to reach the coast before daybreak. Clear?"

"Clear," everyone answered. "Good. Gather your squads; we move in five minutes." They walked out of the tent and started gathering their squads. "SQUAD FIFTEEN FALL IN!" Her Squad quickly formed up. "Sergeant, are we moving out?"

"We are. We're moving out- "ALRIGHT LET'S MOVE OUT!" Brooks sighed, "Now, apparently. I swear these idiots couldn't keep to a schedule if their lives depended on it!" Her squad had a good laugh at that. "Let's move out people!" Her squad moved out of the camp and into the thickening forest. They split up into fire teams of four to six and moved aggressively. They're on a huge time crunch so the slow, methodical advance is not possible for them. They can hear the distant sounds of battle, "I hope our armor is tearing the Imps apart."

"If they're having the same success we are, we might just reach the coast before sunrise."

"Heads up everyone. The terrain is starting to rise. We might run into Imperial resistance." The leading fireteams took cover and stopped allowing the rest of the force to catch up. "Anybody see anything."

"Trees, trees, and more trees. Wait, there's a bush."

"Shut up. Smartass."

"We can't see anything in this darkness. Push up, quickly."

"Well if we can't see anything, the Imperials can't see anything either."

Bang!

"Son of a-" A hail of fire came from up the hill cutting down several Gallians before they had a chance. "FIND COVER!"

"It's a goddamned ambush!"

"NO SHIT! WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST FUCKING CLUE!?"

"Dammed Imperials have the high ground! THAT WON'T FUCKING HELP THEM!"

Brooks took cover behind a tree and returned fire. Once again, the only thing she can see and fire at are muzzle flashes. Hawkins took cover next to her, "Ma'am! We should move on their flanks!"

"Good idea. It will also keep us from being caught in a crossfire. Hawkins, Justin you're with me." They quickly moved to the right flank; they found the squads on the flank had tried to push forward but they're pinned down. "Sergeant! What's your situation!?"

"We tried to press the flank but they have us pinned with MG fire! I sent some fireteams to destroy them but they haven't come through!"

"Alright, we'll find them and destroy those positions." Her fireteam moved left and pushed up. They meet little resistance and soon found what was left of one of the fireteams. They were being overrun by Imperial shock troopers who took no prisoners killing every Gallian they met. Brooks killed the Imperial fireteam leader with a headshot and rapidly fired upon Imps in the open killing three. Hawkins joined her while Justin pushed forward. The battered Gallian fireteam pressed the sudden advantage and together they killed the Imp fireteam to a man. "Who's in charge here?"

"I am ma'am."

"Corporal, what's your situation?"

"Most of my fire team is dead or wounded. Another fireteam was ahead of us when we were attacked."

"Alright, your fireteam is with me. We'll meet up with the second fireteam and push the Imperials back." The now eight-man team pushed forward sweeping aside what resistance they came across. This did not last as they came under heavy fire from the positions previously occupied by the second Gallian fireteam. "Anybody have any grenades!?"

"I do ma'am!"

"Throw it up there!"

"But ma'am, the fireteam- Are either dead or captured! Throw the grenade!" The shock trooper pulled the pin and threw the grenade. The Imperials yelled in alarm and the grenade exploded! "Shock troopers push forward; scouts push up behind them!" The shock troopers charged forward firing all the while. The scouts shortly followed behind. Justin killed two Imperials and moved up to some sandbags. Another shock trooper pushed up next to him and vaulted over the sandbags before taking cover. Off to the right, he can see the Imperial fighting position that has the right flank pinned down. "Anyone have a rifle grenade!?"

"I have one!"

"Can you hit that position!?"

"I'll try! Cover me!" Justin laid down cover fire while the scour set up. I took a few seconds, but he set it up and fired. If flew through the air and landed in front of the sandbag position destroying it and silencing the MG. The fireteams on the right flank pressed their attack and the Imperials in front of them started to retreat. "They're falling back!"

"Come on keep the pressure on!"

"Right flank is moving forward!"

"We'll rally with them at the fighting position!" They pushed up to the position which is just some sandbags in a half-circle. "Damn fine work sergeant! What happened to the fireteams!?"

"One was destroyed the other only has five soldiers capable of fighting!" He clenched his fist, "Goddammed Imperials," he snarled. "We'll press the advantage we have on this flank. It sounds like the other Imps haven't caught on but that won't last for long. Let's make the most of it!" They took cover behind whatever they could and fired killing multiple Imperials. Others looked to their left, stunned at the sight of Gallians occupying their fighting position. They reacted quickly though and returned fire. The Gallians in the center noticed this and started pushing hard. Caught between Gallians on their flank and the Gallians in front of them pushing hard the Imperials in the center started to retreat. "Imperials pushing us!"

Brooks turned to her right and watched the scout in front of her go down. A shock trooper is shot and falls to the ground. Brooks fired killing two Imperials and dropped to her stomach as bullets landed worryingly close. Behind her, Hawkins fell to his knee as a bullet hit his leg. He scrambled for cover and fired blindly.

"Grenade GRENADE!" BOOM!

"AHHH! Help! HELP ME!"

Justin looked over to the screaming and saw a shape slowly crawling toward cover. "Help him! I'll cover you!" He laid down covering fire and a scout rushed forward. He looped his arms under his and started pulling him back. "I got ya buddy!"

"FUCK! I can't feel my legs!" He cried out in agony and the scout looked at what was left of his legs, just two bloody stumps. He cussed and dragged him into cover. He quickly patted his body down but didn't find his Ragnaid. "Damn! Does anybody have some spare Ragnaid!?" A shock trooper called out, "Here!" He tossed him some Ragnaid. "Thanks!" He used it but it did little to ease his pain and he's starting to go into shock. He grabbed his uniform and shook him, "HEY! Focus on me!" He didn't say anything and his shaking worsened. "Focus on me dammit!" He slapped him, hard and that seemed to snap him back. He shook him harder, "I need you to focus on me! I NEED A MEDIC! MEDIC!" He looked back to the scout; his skin is pale, his eyes are glazed over, and his breathing is shallow. "Goddammit! Give me cover fire! I have to get him out of here!" He grabbed him and threw him over his shoulders. "Go now! We've got you covered!" He sprinted down the hill and the darkness swallowed him.

"You two shock troopers are with me!" Justin didn't wait for them to answer before he moved up. He pushed up to Brooks, "Sergeant!"

"Private! Push up to that fallen tree! You should have a good field of fire!"

"Got it!" He moved forward with two shock troopers following. Hawkins moved up to Brooks and took cover. He leaned out and fired all five rounds before ducking back into cover. Brooks fired as he reloaded killing an Imperial. She moved up to another tree and fired killing another Imp. A shock trooper moved up and took cover just in front of her and tossed a grenade. He stood to advance but jerked and fell. Brooks laid her rifle down and pulled out her binoculars. She sees dozens of muzzle flashes along with the shadowy figures of Imperial soldiers. A long burst of tracers caught her attention and she found an MG postion. "ANYBODY HAVE A RIFLE GRENADE!?"

A scout moved up to her, "I have one ma'am!"

"Good!" She pointed out the MG, "Can you hit that MG!?"

"I'll need to get closer!" Brooks nodded. "Justin! Suppress that machine gun!"

"On it!" Brooks, Justin, and the shock trooper pinned the MG allowing the scour to push forward. He moved from cover to cover and was pinned when an Imp fireteam reinforced the MG position. Brooks shifted her fire and killed two Imperials before reloading.

Justin cussed as the shock trooper with him was killed and he was pinned. Something hit his shoulder and he looked down. "SHIT!" He jumped away as a grenade exploded! He crawled into cover and took a second to catch his breath. "Too damn close."

The left flank of the advance hasn't had near the success that the center and right flank have. "MORTAR!" BOOM! Grant hunkered down as dirt rained down on him. Once it was over, he peaked over and continued to fire.

"Why the hell aren't you advancing!?"

"Those Imperials are dug in sir! We can't advance!"

"BULLSHIT! GET OFF YOUR ASS AND ADVANCE!"

"Sergeant! Two fireteams have been killed trying to advance! Unless we can destroy those MG nests we're stuck here," Grant interjected. The sergeant wasn't having it. "ALL THAT MATTERS IS ENCIRCLING THE IMPERIALS IN FOUZEN! You four are with me! If you don't follow I'll have you shot for insubordination!" The sergeant moved forward and the four soldiers he pointed out followed. "Son of a bitch! I NEED EVERY BIT OF FIRE ON THOSE MGS!" Those who heard him carry out his order but even with the MGs pinned the Imperials still had a lot of firepower. This did allow the Gallians further left to advance. By now, Grant has lost sight of the sergeant's fireteam. "IF YOU HAVE RIFLE GRENADES USE THEM!"

"We can't hit those MGs sir! They're out of range!" Grant nodded, "Keep those MGs pinned! You three are with me!" He scrambled out of cover with two scouts and a shock trooper following. They dived into a large shell hole, "Close enough!?"

"Almost! If we get to that tree we can hit them!"

"That's going to be a problem! Imperials front!" They fired at the Imps as they returned fire. "Sergeant! Look to our left!" Grant did and saw a scout firing at three Imperials. He got one but the other two pinned him and advanced. "Give me cover!" He crawled down and sprinted out of the shell hole. His foot hit something and he crashed into the ground. He looked and saw the sergeant's fallen body, his blue uniform stained blood red. He couldn't do anything so he got to his feet and kept running. He found the scout just as an Imperial shattered his nose. He fired from the hip and watched the Imp's body jerk before he fell. The second Imp came in and fired forcing Grant to take cover. Suddenly, the fire stopped and he peaked out finding the Imp dead on the ground and the scout holding his sidearm.

"You good!?" He looked at Grant, "Yeah!" He rolled over onto his stomach and grabbed his rifle. "Where's the rest of the fireteam!?"

"Dead sir! I'm the only one left!"

"Son of a bitch! You have a rifle grenade!?"

"No sir! But," he crawled over to a fallen Gallian scout and searched him and found a rifle grenade. "He won't be needing it anymore." He attached the rifle grenade and fired. It flew true and slammed directly into the left MG nest destroying it! This allowed the Gallians to push forward and destroy the second MG nest. "The Imperials are falling back!"

"We can cut them off!" The scout with Grant stood up but Grant pulled him back down. "Are you crazy!? You're going to get yourself killed!"

"But! Sir- We can't throw our lives away! We'll engage them from here!" They picked off the Imperials as they fell back. Once the main Gallian advance caught up with them they advanced with it. The Imperials made no attempt with a rear-guard action; instead, they abandoned the hill. Soon, the Gallians occupied the hill but couldn't see any sign of the Imperials. "We'll rest here for five minutes. Send the critically wounded back to the camp and get a headcount with your squads."

"SQUAD EIGHTEEN FALL IN!" Once his squad did, he did a quick headcount. Between the wounded and the dead, his squad has lost a third of its strength. Honestly, he expected it to be worse. Doesn't make it any easier though. "Alright squad listen up and listen good. We've lost a third of our squad's strength in the past hour. May God rest their souls. We cannot let this discourage us. When we drive the Imperials out of Gallia we will avenge all of those who died and they will rest easy knowing their country is safe and that their sacrifice was not in vain. FOR GALLIA!"

"FOR GALLIA!"

"THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO HEAR! THOSE IMPERIALS BETTER BE SHAKING IN THEIR BOOTS! ALL SQUADS MOVE OUT!"

They quickly moved through the dark forest. They're on edge so every sound makes tense in case they have to jump into cover. In the distance, the sound of battle grows ever fiercer. "Sounds like we're giving the Imperials hell." They've deployed scouts ahead of their advance but, so far, they haven't found the Imperials. "Where the hell are they?"

"They probably fell back to pre-built defenses."

"Great."

The two scouts kept moving forward and soon they and two other scouts are the furthest ahead of the advance. "Maybe we should slow down; let the main force catch up."

"Good idea. We'll hold up there. It will give us a good view of the forest." They moved to a small hill and waited for the main force to catch up. "Hang on. I see something."

"What is it?"

"Has to be Imperials. They came from our right."

"They might be scouts scouting for our main force."

"Well, let's make sure they can't report back." He picked up his rifle and zeroed in on the leading scout. "I've got the leader."

"I got the second."

"Ready... Now!" Two shots rang out and the Imperials dropped. "Nice shots."

"Stay on guard. There might be more."

"I still don't see the main force. We must be further ahead of them than we thought."

"We have more problems. I see an Imperial fire team moving through the forest. Looks like six in total."

"They must have heard the shots. Get ready."

"We're going to engage them?"

"Maybe." The Imperials slowly grew closer. They're looking for them. "They shouldn't see us." Just then, the thunder of a massive explosion shattered the silence! "The hell was that!?"

"I think that came from Fouzen."

"The hell they'd do? Blow a warehouse full of Ragnite up?"

"Well whatever it was it kicked those Imperials into gear." He pointed to the Imperial fire team who's hoofing it back the way they came. "I see the main force but, it looks like they're making their way out of the forest."

"Come on. We need to figure out what the hell is going on." They left their positions and sprinted back to the main force. "Fall!"

"Winter! Good to see you boys again!"

"Sergeant! What the hell happened!?"

"No idea! We've been ordered to rendezvous with our division and secure the river!"

"Sir! We haven't cleared the forest yet!"

"I'm aware but this came from on high! Nothing we can do about it now!" They exited the forest and found tanks and M1PCs from their division waiting. They quickly climbed on the tanks or into the half-tracks and started moving.

Brooks climbed onto her squad's tank, specifically, Lieutenant Jackson's tank. "Lieutenant, what the hell changed!?"

"Fucking army decided to attack Fouzen now! Our orders are to race to the river and secure it!"

"So! Same plan just on a tighter timeframe!?"

"Seems that way! Everyone hang on! Chase! Get us to our top speed!" Brooks didn't hear his response, but the tank's speed started to increase. "Hang on to your asses! If you fall off you will be left behind!"