Fort Triggering
--An Advance Wars Fan Fiction by StarFoxRocks—
XXVII: Colonel Grant's Decision
William Grant was beside the back wall of the Fort. He had snuck around, unnoticed by anyone. Before doing so, however, he had salvaged some grenades from the ground.
Quickly he drew out his pistol and loaded a fresh clip into it.
"I know it's here somewhere..." he muttered. With haste he ran alongside the wall, until he spotted what he had been searching boor.
A back door to the Fort.
"Bah!" Grant managed a dry laugh. "What kind of fort has a back door?"
He tested the knob. It was locked, as expected. He took out one of his newfound grenades.
"Heh, this should take care of that."
Paul Thompson was at the back of the rows of soldiers. "Come on, guys! We can handle them!"
"We've gotten enough encouragements already!" yelled Private Farr. "We don't need any more!"
"Just trying to keep my spirits," muttered Paul.
Sergeant Rayson stood from his prone position. "I'm going to HQ to see how the COs are doing. I'll be back."
"I'll come with you," Lamondo quickly followed.
Meanwhile, Andy and Captain Ferris were watching over the soldiers.
"The village is secure, sir," Ferris reported.
Andy nodded. "That's, um... good, Captain. We'd better stick around to watch over them."
"That's an okay, sir."
"Carry on, I guess."
Andy turned around to walk away. Just as he did, the back door, which was nearby, exploded and was knocked away to make an open space. It landed on the young CO.
Ferris quickly raised his machine gun. "Commander!"
Colonel Grant appeared in the space. Acting quick, he shot at Ferris with his pistol. The Captain fell back to the ground, dropping his gun. Grant then turned to the villagers, who were as frightened as ever.
"Not one damn word," he ordered harshly. "One peep, and I kill you."
He turned and ran towards the HQ. He slipped in, unnoticed by the soldiers.
"Lady Nell?"
General Ghramn had taken off his green outer coat to reveal a shirt of a lighter green color.
"How does it look from your view?"
Nell had been watching through a window for quite some time.
"It appears we are overcoming them. But, if Blue Moon rallies all their troops outside and charges, we'll surely fall."
Sergeants Lamondo and Rayson then arrived.
"Lady Nell!"
Nell finally turned from the window. "What is it, Sergeant?"
"We're here to check on you," Rayson explained. "Where are the others?"
"Max, Sami and Hachi are in the meeting room," Nell replied.
"And Andy?"
"He went down to the village with Captain Ferris not long ago," Ghramn answered for Nell. "See, look- what in the hell?"
They saw the cowering villages, but that wasn't what troubled them. The back door had been blown open.
"They're in the premises!" Lamondo exclaimed. "Lady Nell! Please, get behind some cover!"
"Who the hell decided we needed a back door?" yelled Rayson.
As they scrambled about, the door was kicked open. Colonel Grant entered, raised his pistol, and shot down Sergeant Lamondo. Rayson reached for his pistol, but Grant shot him too.
Ghramn and Nell stepped back. Just then, Cliff Kinnear ran into the room.
"Nell! There's been- wah!"
Grant pointed his pistol at him. "Not one step!"
Cliff stepped back.
"What have you done?" Nell stared into the eyes of Colonel Grant, rigid with hate.
"I'm doing my job, Lady Nell," Grant answered. He pointed his pistol at her forehead. "And that would be defeating Orange Star by any means. What is better than killing you?"
Ghramn stepped in front of Nell, pushing Grant's arm away. He stared with disbelief.
"Move out of the way, or you will get a bullet, too!"
"Do not take the life of Lady Nell," Ghramn pleaded. "Please, kill me instead."
"Zack!" Nell said.
"Stay back, Nell," Ghramn said, watching Grant carefully. Cliff stood awkwardly in the doorway.
Grant closed his eyes, deep in thought. "Fine... if you want it your way... then you shall both die..."
He pointed his pistol at Ghramn's head. "Starting with you, General."
General Ghramn gasped. "No! Wait!"
Cliff was pushed from the doorway. Jack Brady entered the room, Machine gun at ready.
"Get down!" he yelled.
Nell and Ghramn obliged. They jumped down to the ground.
Grant turned around, with an appalled look. Upon sight of the machine gun, he opened his mouth to let out a yell, and moved his arm. Before he could even aim the pistol, Jack opened fire. Grant was riddled full of bullets.
The Blue Moon Colonel fell to his knees. He let out a wheeze. Blood trickled out of his mouth. He blinked at Jack, and then collapsed on the floor. He was dead.
Outside, the gunfire suddenly ceased. Everyone was nervous. The only one brave enough to take a look was Corporal Richens. When he peeked out of the main gate, he let out a cheer.
"They're gone! Blue Moon has retreated!"
At hearing that, the soldiers began to yell wildly.
Down the path that left Fort Triggering and headed towards the nearby cities, Captain Ramzini had a very defeated expression upon his face.
"We've lost," he muttered. "Sir, what are we to do now?"
"Retreat," Olaf said flatly. "Our only hope is the spy. Let's hope he dies doing his job instead of a pitiful death."
The troops marched on. In the air was the dull sense of failiure.
Nobody said another word.