I looked at Spearheads commander, Undertaker with a critical eye. Was it coincidence that the captain's odd behavior coincided with the arrival of the Legion? Was there a way that the captain knew when the enemy was approaching? If so, how? I made a mental note to ask about that later before turning to the immediate issue of the rapidly approaching Legion.
"ETA 20 minutes before the Legion reaches the town." Lena chimed in with shaky confidence over the Para-RAID. "I believe point 204 would be the ideal deployment area….. Undertaker?"
The captain looked over at the battered town with a blank but calculating stare. "Yes I believe so."
I closed my eyes in thought. While Spearhead knew the area in and out, my men and I didn't and we didn't have a map to fall back on. On top of that, I had forgotten another important fact, his men didn't have a way to reach the battlefield. Caster would need to be within a few miles of the town to be in effective range. Saber wasn't too much of a problem as they would primarily be his own security team but it wouldn't sit right with him to leave Caster high and dry without a security detail. And while I could have Archer take them, the Legion may spot them, destroying their element of surprise. Plus there was no guarantee that the helicopters would even be able to get off the ground.
"Major, is there a good location for our heavy mortars on the outskirts of town? A place where their fire is most effective?" I asked as an idea slowly came to mind. "And do we know if there is the Eintagsfliege to worry about?"
There was a flurry of tapping over the line before she replied. "Yes, there are two locations best suited for Caster. There is point 103, a small hill on the edges of the western part of town. The other is point 36…...it's a larger hill on the southern end. It'll give Caster the best chance to put effective fire down in the town but they won't have anywhere to retreat to, not even trees for cover, it's out in the open."
I opened my eyes and stared at Caster, all 8 mortar teams stared back at me with a resolute expression on their faces. It was settled then. "Point 36 it is then, Saber and I will go with them for moral support. And the Eintagsfliege?"
"None in sight, wait, sir did you just say moral support?!" Lena asked incredulously.
I ignored the last part of her comment and turned to Undertaker. "I'm pretty sure this is the wrong time for you and your men to try out a brand new toy but you are free to, should you wish. I only have one concern and that's getting my men to the battlefield." Undertaker looked at me with mild curiosity. "Unfortunately, due to my own personal oversight, I'm in a predicament." I gave the younger man a small bow of my head. "Would Spearhead help my men?"
I watched as the young captain looked over at his Juggernaut with his typical stoic expression. "Me and my men wouldn't mind Colonel...but are you sure you want to do this?"
"Yes, I'm sure." I nodded. "And if you wouldn't mind, allow me and my men to hop on the backs of your tin cans, just get us to point 36 and we'll do the rest."
"Alright then….let's hurry up, the Legion are getting close."
I nodded before I turned back to my men. "Caster and Saber, Spearhead will be giving us a taxi to the battlefield. Let's hurry up people." I commanded with a firm tone. "And Assassin, go ahead and find a place for overwatch."
"Yes sir!" They chorused before running into action. Assassin took off for the town as soon as I had given the order. "Archer 1 and 2, standby for now."
"Roger!"
I began walking over to my Juggernauts as I gave Spearhead a quick overview of the new machines. "I will give you all the short version of everything that's been changed. The interface is the same, your cockpits are slightly bigger and reinforced, it should stop most shrapnel now without much trouble. The standard armaments are the same but the main difference is the legs. They have been reinforced along the joints with thicker armor and servos that improves mobility and agility and durability. The power plant itself is unchanged but I have managed to squeeze out more power so you'll find a better power to weight than your old tin cans. Feel free to take it or not."
There was a moment of silence before a black haired girl took up on my offer. "I'll take it, what's the worst that can happen?" She shrugged as she hopped in. "Oh! Oh….yeah this is much less cramped and the seats! They aren't metal boards!" She exclaimed as the hatch closed.
I gave the others a sideways glance, no one else was taking up on the offer which was fine, they wouldn't even have a chance to test it out for any issues or bugs. If anything, the oriental looking woman was the crazy one for just jumping in. I shrugged at the lack of response.
"Alright, let's go." Undertaker ordered as he ran over to his Juggernaut in the hanger. Everyone else followed suit quickly.
When I looked around, my men had already gathered all their gear. Good, now all we had to do was hop on and get taxied to the battlefield and by the feel of things, they didn't have much time.
"Colonel…." Lena's soft voice pulled me from my thoughts.
"Yes, Major?"
"...It…..It's nothing sir." She sounded unsure.
I withheld an exasperated sigh. "Major, this isn't the time to second guess yourself. Trust us and more importantly trust in your own abilities."
She took a deep breath. "Yes sir, I'll do my best."
I heard the Juggernauts roar to life as they sped out of the hanger. "Alright, hop on everyone!" I called out as Spearhead stopped in front of us. I quickly ran over to the new juggernaut. "I'll be in your care…."
"Second Lieutenant Kirschblüte and thank you for the new paint job Colonel!" She quipped over our comms as the Juggernaut rumbled forward with the others. I felt the machine shift slightly as Sebrina hopped on next to me without a word.
I sat next to the main cannon and held on tightly. Behind me the almost deafening roar of the helicopters threatened to drown my own thoughts out. "Of course, a shame no one else took up the offer." I yelled over the sounds of the machinery.
"I guess I was the only crazy one sir." She softly laughed.
I smiled as I tugged down on my cover. The members of Spearhead were surprisingly pleasant, for now anyway, no one had blatantly shown hatred towards his way though none of them really trusted him or his men. Which was understandable, I had been expecting a colder response from the 86s but this was a nice pleasant surprise. Nobody outright hated his guts and if they did, they did a great job hiding it.
The rest of the way was done in complete silence as we all readied ourselves. After what was probably a few minutes, we were dropped off at our designated spot. I hopped off along with Sebrina and tapped the side of the hull lightly to signify we were off.
I watched as the juggernauts assembled together and sped off to the war torn town with a neutral expression on my face. My heart thumped in my chest wildly as I scanned the hill we were atop off, the position gave us a fantastic view of the town. With that, true to the Majors words, we were exposed out here. If the Legion were to push on our position, we would be in trouble.
Sebrina and I locked eyes, we both knew there would be no retreat in a place like this. She gave me a subtle nod.
"Alright let's get to work!" I barked out as the artillery was being set up. I took a moment to watch the last moments of the juggernauts disappearing into the city. "Let's bring all of them home." I spoke in a softer tone, forgetting for a moment that everyone could hear me.
"Sir!"
I clasped my hands behind my back as I watched Sebrina set her men up in a protective perimeter around us. The mortars were slowly being dialed in as the teams worked to find their ranges using landmarks and certain buildings in the town. Yet another oversight on my part, we didn't have a precise way to land our shots. We would have to rely on the Major, Spearhead and Assassin to guide our shots in. Which was going to be tricky, the Legion were fast and hard hitting. Our best use would most likely be to snuff out the Skorpion heavy artillery pieces if they were within range or the Lowe heavy tanks. I bit my lips in a rare show of nervousness. As long as Archer could be deployed, they should be fine.
"Assassin, this is Caster 1. Give us some landmarks for us."
"Wilco. We're in the tall building on the eastern part of town, there's a red line that runs down the side. Do you see us?"
Out of the corner of my eyes I saw the captain of Caster look through his binoculars. "We see you, send it."
As they continued their chatter I took the chance to look around. I distinctly realized that I was the only one here who didn't experience the terror of the mechs first hand. I withheld a scoff, I was the highest ranking soldier on the battlefield and yet I had the least amount of real world experience. All the Marines here had prior experience in fighting the Legion and knew of their strength. For the first time in nearly a decade, we were back in the fight and my men and I were leading the charge. A part of me really wondered if we would be able to create any sort of impact out here. At the outbreak of this war, the conventional military was all but wiped out in a matter of weeks and here we were now. Would this be a repeat of history? If so, then his aspirations and dreams would die with him out here on the battlefield and nothing would change.
I wasn't going to let that happen, I liked living after all. I adjusted my cover and stepped forward with renewed confidence. "It's a shame that I wasn't on the battlefield 9 years ago, we would've won otherwise." I felt the gazes and attention of everyone on the net. "Imagine facing a technologically superior foe head on over and over again and expecting a different outcome." I practically sneered at those generals, the very same ones that were my bosses. "I won't allow this human meat grinder to continue any longer than it needs to be. Follow me and I'll show you all what it means to change human destiny with human hands." I stopped at the very top of the hill with my arms crossed over my chest.
There was a brief pause as everyone on the hill stopped moving to watch me. The silence was deafening and in a way, haunting. The calm before the storm.
"They're here." Undertaker called out in his monotone voice over the sounds of his mech. "Spearhead is moving to engage. Third platoon, keep wide of us and watch our flanks. Everyone else push ahead."
I listened as Spearhead began engaging the enemy in a cacophony of fire. Looking down, I saw brillant tracers and explosions ring out as the battle started.
And all hell broke loose.
I silently let everyone into a rhythm as we all conversed over the Para-RAID and continued to look down on the town with a focused gaze. I could occasionally make out the metallic reflections of various mechs moving around in between the blown out buildings.
"Spearhead! You have more coming in on your location!" Lena firmly spoke with practiced ease.
"Roger." Undertaker replied. "Looks like more Ameise and Grauwolfs."
"What a turkey shoot." Wehrwolf mumbled in a bored manner.
"Caster hold fire until we have something solid for you to hit." Assassin called out, confirming what everyone was thinking.
"Understood."
As the minute passed, I felt myself getting a little impatient and had to take a deep breath. It was a weird feeling of powerlessness just watching the battle from the sidelines. It would also be embarrassing for the battle to end before they got to do anything, especially after my little speech and bravado.
"Shit!" Wehrwolf exclaimed suddenly as a series of large explosions rang off simultaneously. "That's a platoon of Lowes by point 304!"
I looked high in the sky, not a single Eintagsfliege in sight. "Archer, the skies are all yours."
"On our way! ETA 5 minutes."
"Caster! Got your targets for Spearhead! West end of the town, a blown out building in the shape of a triangle. Do you see it?"
From the corner of my eyes I saw the mortar platoon spring into action. "Wilco, we see it." The platoon leader of Caster replied as he looked up and down to help his team adjust the range.
"Fire for effect!"
There was a series of thunderous thumps as the mortars belched out their munitions. Looking up, I could see the ever faint white trails of the shells before they disappeared from my view. I locked my gaze to the specified building to see several explosions around the area.
"No effect on targets! They're on the move eastward along the main highway!"
"Damn."
I narrowed my eyes. The column of tanks would essentially be moving across us. Crossing the T in naval terms and providing us with a rather linear path to trace. "Caster, fire partial salvos of your guns. Fire along their predicted path along that road. Bracket your fire in and let Assassin guide your shots."
"Roger!"
I heard the man make corrections and continue their fire on the enemy. The chances of them hitting a direct hit was low but as long as they could disrupt their movements and buy Spearhead time to finish off the small fries, then their job was done.
Over the RAID device I could hear a mix between my men and Spearhead overlap. It was slightly disorienting hearing all the voices at once but no one seemed to be ill of it, for now anyway.
"Good effect!" Assassin exclaimed. "That's the leading Lowe!"
"Pour it on ladies! We got 'em boxed in!" The leader of Caster exclaimed as they began firing their mortars at a feverish pace, not caring for their rapidly diminishing munitions as they found their range.
"This is Undertaker, we're engaging the Lowes on the highway. Hold fire."
Everyone immediately held their fire.
"There's more Legion coming! Watch out for their Skorpions!" Lena chimed in as she got more intel on her end. "They're …...so many of them…" She trailed off in a terrified whisper. There was a short pause before she regained her confidence. "Archer 1 and 2, they need you in the town, I've got several dozen….no I got even more now! They just keep coming! All from the same vector."
I suppressed a shiver. This could get ugly. "Give me a number Major."
"..."
"Major!" I barked.
"...It's still going up but I see an estimate of over 200 Legion units coming into view."
"Shit….that's….." Spearheads XO trailed off in shock.
Over the comm there was only the sounds of battle as everyone fell into silence. It was Spearhead and a small group of Marines versus a small army of Legion that had them dead to rights. I rubbed my chin in thought. This kind of behavior was new from the Legion. From what I had analyzed from past battles, the Legion rarely had reinforcements and when they did, they numbered a dozen or two typically. Something of this scale at this point in time could only really mean one thing.
The Legion were changing tactics with a new foe.
It was clear as day now, the Legion were far more capable and able to adapt to the changing battlefield in a way that's similar to humans. They weren't just bots anymore. Something, somehow, somewhere during the last decade, they had grown exponentially.
My hypothesis wasn't just a hypothesis anymore.
I took a deep breath to calm my nerves. The major was silent and moral across the board from both the 86s and his men were down. Just like a switch, the tides of battle were flipped.
They were lambs to slaughter but….
I cracked a smile as I heard the approaching sounds of the Chinooks. I still had some cards to play.
"I see, then it is an even fight." I commented with all the confidence I could muster as I basked in the attention of everyone on the net. "The enemy is in front of us, behind us….to our left and to our right, all that means is they can't run away now. Don't despair because there are a couple more to fight, have confidence in your abilities people. We will pull through." I had to pause as I ran out of breath. Taking the moment I watched high in the sky as our guardian angels flew overhead. "Archer 1 and 2! You've got a target rich environment! Weapons free! Rip them to shreds!"
There was an excited laugh from Archer 1. "Wilco Colonel! Let's light them up!"
I gazed down at the town with renewed intensity. "Spearhead! Use scorched earth tactics! Pull back slowly through the town towards me and my men and we'll catch them out in the field in a kill zone. You'll have angels covering for you, just buy us some time!"
"Understood." Undertaker acknowledged as he barked out his own orders. "All platoons break off and pick them off as you fall back through the town. Let the heavy hitters do the damage."
"Roger!"
Another asset was undeniably the captain of Spearhead. He was cool, calm and collected no matter the circumstance and he had the trust of his men. My respect for the younger soldier and the others went up several notches as I heard the battle intensify.
"Guns, guns, guns!" Archer 1 called out as he made a sweeping pass over the town, uncaring for the fire that was coming up at him. From both sides white hot lead spewed out from the miniguns along with a modified heavy machine gun that was attached to the opened ramps.
Archer 2 was on the other side of town in a similar fashion as the air lit up with green tracers. They would be invaluable for Spearhead.
I turned to the men around me. "Alright, conserve your munitions until Spearhead has drawn them in closer. Get your ranges right, we can't afford to miss our shots anymore." The mortar team responded with a chorus of "yes sirs" as I turned to the ground pounders. "Let's see how we fare this time around gentlemen."
Sebrina tapped my shoulder. "Lancer is on their way, ETA 15 mikes."
I looked at her with narrowed eyes. "Surprisingly fast. Did you call them earlier?"
She nodded firmly. "While you were distracted sir."
"Good call Sebrina, thank you." I complimented her with a nod of my head in approval. I wasn't angry at her for making her own call like some officers would've been. Her intuition and instincts were something to be trusted. She was a veteran of war, they all were in fact.
"Of course sir."
Meanwhile I was handed a rifle from one of the mortar crew. "Take my rifle sir, you'll need it more than me."
I looked down at the gun and grabbed it in a firm grip. "Thank you." I racked a round in the chamber before taking a knee on the grass. "Sucks that I chose to look pretty instead of wearing something more appropriate for battle." I committed offhandedly as I looked down my rifle.
There was a round of chuckles as we readied ourselves.
"This is Assassin, there's a platoon sized unit of Legion scouts with a pair of Lowes right below us. Going your way, whoever that is in the center district."
"Black Dog here, that's us. Thanks for the heads up, moving to intercept."
"Archer 1 break!"
I caught the breathtaking moment as the chinook jerked up and to the side, narrowly avoiding a shell. "Shit that was a close one! Thank you lady with the pretty voice!"
"First platoon fall back, we're pulling back now to the center district."
"Everyone except Black Dog and his platoon are in position Captain."
I narrowed my eyes. That sounded like the woman who took my Juggernaut, Second Lieutenant Kirschblüte. Hopefully the machine was serving her well.
Archer 2 made a pass over the mentioned district. "I see what yall are doing. Moving to support. Archer 1 watch our backs."
"Wilco, moving up to overwatch." Archer 1 raised their altitude in a looping circle. "Holy shit! Undertaker how'd you manage to piss them off that bad?!"
I took the moment to address the silent Major. "Major Milize, you still here with me?"
"Y-yes sir." She replied in a soft, shaky voice.
"I need your support, Major. We need our eye in the sky if we are to pull through this." I assured her as a huge eruption of fire lit up the central district. "I trust you, Major."
"...you have everything under control sir. What would you need me for?"
"More than you think, your battlefield analysis is invaluable to us." I replied firmly. "Help me end this war Major Milize or else we all die out here."
I heard her take a deep breath. "Yes sir."
"...Colonel if I may make a recommendation." She started slowly and with some amount of hesitation in her tone.
"Go ahead, Major."
"It might be a little risky but I believe it might be better if you send some men to Point 106, the small hill on the western end of town. It has a clear shot of where you are Colonel. If you can put some of Caster there, you'll have an interlocking field of fire. It's about a two mile run if you cut directly across the open field." She explained into our heads in a calmer manner.
I hummed in thought, it would be cutting things close. "Nothing ventured, nothing gained." I turned to the mortars. "Staff Sergeant!"
"Sir!"
"Take yourself and five of your teams to Point 106. Captain Sebrina! Send your best shooters with them!" I heard the confirmations of the Marines and turned my attention back to the fight unfolding in front of me. "And hurry before we get caught with our pants down."
Tense minutes passed as the fighting in the town continued to increase in intensity. I listened closely to everyone's comms as they fought together. A part of me was proud of the moment. Alba and 86 working together for the first time since the outbreak of the war. With this, hopefully Spearhead would join his cause.
While the 86s weren't needed exactly, I wanted them in my pockets. Once Spearhead joined, no doubt others would follow suit. And he didn't need all of the 86s either, just a few good soldiers.
Well that was if they even made it out of here alive.
A small doubtful part of me kept reminding myself that we were helplessly outnumbered by a technologically superior foe. It was a wonder how they hadn't had a single casualty yet.
Correction, Spearhead didn't have a single casualty.
And I intended to keep it that way if I had anything to say about it.
"Colonel you got some trouble headed your way! They ignored Spearhead and are moving right at you from the town!" Handler One hurriedly informed them.
"Just the scouts?" I asked as I tightened my grip on my rifle.
"Hard to tell sir."
My lips thinned. If there was anything bigger than just the scouts then they were rightfully fucked without support. I could still recall Archer 1 for support but that would take them away from the heaviest fighting.
Undertakers' voice cut through my thoughts "Black Dog, take your platoon and help the Colonel out. We can hold it down here."
That was a relief to hear but I squashed the feeling down to focus on the battle. While it certainly wouldn't be a bad call, I needed Spearhead to be at full capacity. "No need Captain, continue as planned. If need be I'll have Archer 1 break off."
"Colonel….are you sure about this?"
"Please listen to Captain Undertaker sir." Lena chimed in. "Do not underestimate the Legion Colonel, they're-"
"I'm well aware of our situation, Major Milize." I interrupted her with a blunt tone. "Do not think I am about to repeat history here. We will engage with the enemy and we will destroy them."
Both the Major and Captain were silent now.
"Caster, how much longer?" I asked as I now could hear the heavy breaths of those running across the wide open field. If they got caught out there...I didn't want to think about it. However much longer they needed, we needed to distract the Legion here.
"They're almost there Colonel." Lena answered for them. "Just a few more minutes and I believe I see Lancer now too, they aren't that much farther out."
The news filled me with some more confidence as I could make out some movement at the edges of town. "I believe we have some visitors now. Fire as soon as you have visual."
I dropped down from my knee to a prone position on my stomach at the very top of the hill. Sebrina was next to me as she laid some spare magazines next to me. We formed a firing line along the top of the hill and behind us the remaining mortar teams began firing away as soon as they had sight on the Legion.
As soon as the first shots landed we all opened fire at once.
"Just some scouts so far." I commented as I fired in short bursts. The modified rifle bucked against my shoulder as we fired our first shots since the beginning of the war. We fell into a certain chaotic rhythm quickly. Thanks to our heavier rounds, 6.8mm round from the typical 5.56, our rifles were just barely able to penetrate the armor of the Ameise. Our angle of elevation certainly helped defeat their angular armor.
Still, while we were able to punch some holes in the scouts, our rounds just didn't do a ton of damage. I clicked my tongue in annoyance as I watched a particular scout with its legs blown off, take over half my magazine before it stopped moving.
"Focus fire on our left flank!" Sebrina commanded as bolted up from beside me to move along the firing line as she continued to put accurate fire down range.
I turned back to the enemy in front of began picking off what targets I could hit. I let the captain take control now that we were in the thick of the action and let my weapon do all the talking. We were fortunate enough to have the high ground and some mortar support, otherwise we would be having a lot more trouble.
That, and my decision to modify our existing rifles to accommodate for a larger and more effective round. Even now it still baffled me that the military never went through with the adaptation of the 6.8mm round. Then again, these were the same people who were willing to send people to their deaths while they partied in the capitol.
"More incoming Colonel!" Lena cried out.
I bit my tongue to curb my urge to curse out loud and instead focused on holding the enemy back.
Yet despite our efforts, we were getting pushed back hard and it wasn't even that much of a contest. In the back of my mind, I gave us another couple minutes before the Legion would be on top of us.
"Archer 1, move to assist Saber now!"
I grunted as I dropped the empty magazine for a fresh one. While the prideful part of me was a little miffed that we were so outclassed, a bigger part of me was filled with relief at the hurried arrival of the chinook.
The helicopter began making fast passes over the open field as it laid fire down on the enemy units. Even from my position on the ground, I could make out the red hot barrels of the miniguns. The helicopter crew had no fear as they made pass after pass despite the heavy fire they were receiving.
They had to be running low on ammunition too, just like the rest of us. Looking to my side, I made a mental note of how many full magazines I had left.
I didn't like what I saw. I'd have to resort to getting ammo from the others around me if this kept up for much longer. There was nothing I could do about it so I quickly resumed my fire down at the Legion. I slowed my rate of fire and took more calculated shots where I could. The more they could draw in, the better.
I just had to trust Spearhead that they wouldn't either leave us or get annihilated in the town.
"Colonel, this is Snow Witch. Watch out for more Ameise along with Grauwolfs, they're equipped with rocket launchers!"
"Take care of the Ameise as fast as you can, they also act as spotters for the Lowes and Skorpions." Undertaker added.
"Understood, thank you." I tersely replied as I flinched from a round that landed far too close for comfort. I gritted my teeth and ignored the urge to run away. I still had a job to do.
Suddenly, the ground around us erupted in a sea of explosions.
For a moment I felt a sensation of weightlessness as I flew through the air. As quickly as the moment came, it all came crashing down as I felt my back impact the ground hard. I felt breathless as I stared up at the blue sky. Off in the distance I could hear a myriad of voices.
"Shit!"
"Sabers hit hard! Take out those Skorpions Captain Undertaker!"
"Roger, send their location Major."
"Sending!"
So that's what happened. I coughed up some blood as I pulled myself up slowly. Looking around, our whole line had been destroyed as everybody was scattered about everywhere . In just one volley they damn near killed everyone here. All because I didn't space out my men farther apart.
Damn it.
I ignored the searing pain in my lower stomach and grabbed my rifle before standing up. I covered my mouth with my hand as I fell into a fit of coughing.
That was a lot of blood.
"Hurry! They're about to be overrun! Where are you Caster?! Spearhead? Anyone?!"
"Mmmm relax Lena. I'm still here." I groaned as I walked over to where I was. There was a large crater some few meters right in front of where I was and it was one of many all across where our line was. "All of you, if you're breathing get the fuck up!" I barked out loud through clenched teeth.
"Colonel! Hang tight!"
I could hear my marines groan over the Para-RAID but no one said a word.
"Caster! Where are you?!" I demanded before I spat out a wad of blood.
There was heavy panting. "Ready for fire mission."
I reached down and grabbed one of my marines. "Give me your smoke." I grabbed his smoke grenade from his hands and threw it down the hill, uncaring for the withering fire coming up from the approaching Legion. "On the smoke!"
"Sir isn't that right on top of you?"
"Don't care, do it."
"...Wilco, firing!"
I heard the loud thumps over the comms and watched in defiance of the metal machines as another wave of artillery rained down on them. The shells landed practically right in front of me and thankfully the fire stopped them cold momentarily.
I stood tall on top of the battered hill, uncaring of how exposed I was.
In an almost childish fit of rage I shouldered my rifle once more and began shooting down at the Legion, despite knowing my efforts would be useless against the horde. One by one everyone else followed suit though some chose to not be as foolish as I was by standing up.
Miraculously, Archer 1 was still on station covering for us. I had thought they would be destroyed as soon as the Legion could focus on them.
"The only way these metal bastards take this hill is over our dead bodies! Give your hearts for the Republic!" I gave a war cry as I laid down as much hate as I could.
"KILL!" All Marines gave their war cry as we made our final stand.
I held down the trigger as I emptied out the last of my magazine. I tossed the useless rifle away and pulled out my sidearm. I stuffed my left hand in my pockets and relaxed my upper body as I held the pistol with a single hand. The stance was something I learned from a former competition shooter. I found out quickly I shot better this way but I'm sure I looked ridiculous in the middle of battle.
Not like it mattered when my foes were 10 ton metal monsters, I was just feeling spiteful.
"Lancer? Is this Lancer?" Lena asked.
My ears perked up as there was a moment of silence.
"Yes ma'am, Lancers One, Two and Three are here to party." The loud rumble of Lancers tanks echoed through the channel. "On your left Colonel."
I watched as Lancers Abrams tanks burst through the cloud of dirt from the east. How perfect, the Legion had only way to go now and that was back into the city where Spearhead was waiting for them.
Or run us over.
I watched, transfixed as the fast moving tanks began firing into the small sea of Legion units with their main cannons and their coaxial machine guns. The lightly armored mechs were quickly torn to shreds but more and more kept coming in from the town, they were managing past Spearhead through sheer numbers.
The only real threat to the tanks were the Grauwolfs. Their anti-tank rocket launchers and high frequency blades that could cut through heavy armor if they got close enough.
"Lancer! Aim for the Grauwolfs! Ignore the small fry." I commanded the tank platoon as I continued to ignore any injuries I may have. The fact that I was functioning meant they were insignificant enough to be left alone. I narrowed my eyes as I saw the unmanned .50 caliber guns on the tanks turrets.
I needed more men.
I need more of everything.
Unfortunately the only thing I could do was to make the most of what I had and hope that we would be able to pull through this.
Taking a short breather, I gazed out to the war torn battlefield. The once empty grasslands were filled with countless Legion units, many destroyed but many more still alive and kicking. I didn't know how long I stayed like this, just taking in the inhuman sight of the man made machines.
To my surprise I found myself staring into the singular red orb of one of the Ameise scouts. It was just one of many, couldn't have been anything more than just a metal tin can and yet the two of us just stared at each other. I slowly raised my pistol and took careful aim. I leveled my sights directly on the red eye but I didn't shoot.
The machine was blown to bits in a spectacular flash of fire and flames.
"The rest of the Legion in the city are retreating now! Spearhead move to assist the Colonel and his men!":
"On our way."
The voices of the Major and Undertaker cut through the haze I found myself in, snapping myself back to reality.
Suddenly I felt someone grabbing my arm. "Last mag sir, make it count." And was handed the rifle that I had thrown away previously. I nodded and took the rifle after I holstered my sidearm. When I raised the rifle up against my shoulder, I found the weight to be almost comforting. The kick of the recoil felt numb now and the smells of gunpowder and iron all blended together seamlessly.
I took whatever pot shots I could while standing on top of this damned hill. I had expected to feel something but my emotions felt weirdly drained. I felt nothing and why should I? These monsters didn't deserve pity or remorse. Not even anger I suppose but in my numbness I came to a surprising realization of something else entirely.
This war was fucking stupid.
And I never saw it for what it was until now.
Some idiot at the Empire thought it would be a great idea to invent something they couldn't control, and ended up wiping themselves out.
Then some idiot panicked and thought it would be a brilliant idea to cast everyone but the Alba down as subhumans and use them as drones.
Even worse were the people that just let it happen, which was everyone in the Republic. The nature of the 86s was the worst kept military secret known to man. What foolishness.
What was even better was the people in the outer districts whose living conditions were just barely better than those of the 86s. Even those idiots proudly proclaimed the 86s were less human or whatever else they managed to think up.
Keep them poor and keep them stupid.
I overheard someone say that in the capital.
It was the very person in charge of this damned nation.
I roared in rage and let loose the rest of my rounds as Spearhead moved in to clean up the leftovers, which was still quite a lot.
And in seeing these kids fight firsthand….changed something in my head.
Maybe it was the bomb that nearly blew me up but I wanted these kids to be something more than what they were forced to be and while maybe I meant it half heartedly before, I certainly couldn't feel the same way after seeing and hearing these soldiers.
It was one thing to change a nation's policies, it was another to change the hearts and minds of these people that I called my countrymen.
And it was strange having some sort of epiphany while in the middle of a fight. I should be more worried about the countless close calls and the sounds of bullets zipping by me but I wasn't. Something like this felt trivial when compared to what was running in my head.
To start from zero.
I was starting to understand a bit what that meant and what it meant for me to follow through on my words and promises. Now I know for sure though. For a start, I wasn't taking a no from these kids. I cast aside any plans of moving forward without the 86s.
As the last of the Legion were wiped out I heard everyone around me cheer happily. Everyone was giving each other hugs or high fives or whatever else they were doing but I didn't say a word, like the 86s who stood among the wreckage of the dead Legion.
Their juggernauts stood still in time, unmoving.
I had no idea what was running through their heads and to be honest I was still trying to sort all these thoughts running through my own.
But I couldn't just be like everyone else here.
I lightly held the rifle by the grip and began walking down the hill. I ran a hand through my hair and swept the loose strands away from my eyes. As I did so I recalled a book I read long ago.
There was once a great king who conquered much of the known world. He is still considered to be one of the best generals and kings known to man. The man who led peasants to conquer warlords and nations of knights and nobles.
I fear not the army of lions but an army of sheep led by a lion.
At the same time, he was considered to be a tyrant.
The king must be greedier than anyone else. He must laugh louder, rager harder and exemplify the extreme of all things good and evil. Thus his retainers envy and adore him, for his will and aspiration burns within the hearts of his people.
A tyrant who won the hearts of not only his people but those that opposed him.
To win but not destroy, to conquer but not humiliate. That is what it means to conquer the hearts and minds of all those who follow and oppose the king. But the path of kingship is not without its challenges. Glory lies beyond the horizon! Challenge it because it is unreachable! Speak of conquest and demonstrate it….so that your followers do the same.
Those words stuck out in my adolescent brain because it was cool and inspirational.
Now, as I stood on the precipice of my own ideals and it held a much different meaning.
I stood in front of the juggernaut with the headless skeleton. After a moment the cockpit opened, revealing the young captain of Spearhead.
The two of us didn't say a word and neither did anyone else. Even Lena who couldn't even see what was going on could probably tell something was going on with how quiet everyone had become.
I slowly walked up to the battered mech.
As I did, Undertaker began undoing his restraints but I stopped him with a raised hand.
For the first time all morning, I saw and felt genuine confusion emanating from the younger man.
When I got close enough, I looked back at the other 86s, who had also opened their juggernauts to see the commotion. I turned back to the dark haired soldier and gave him a small smile. "Johan Richter."
Undertaker watched me with wide eyes before he returned the smile. Personally I didn't know if the smile was genuine or if he was faking it but…..
"Shinei Nouzen."
But it was a start.
And it was all that I needed.
Thanks for reading! I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter and didn't think it ended too abruptly.
Once again if there is anything super weird let me know! I still haven't gone around to reading the light novel but it's something I'll get too soon so no spoilers please! Although while on the wiki I already spoiled myself a bit lol.
Until next time!
