Chapter 8: First Blood (or Battle at the Jefferson intersection)
The column advance in silence by the highway, except for Tony, who said "Its 7:10 in the morning" and writes it on his notepad
"Hey buddy, you better grab your rifle and drop that thing" one of the conscripts, but before Tony could answer, Stan screamed "Be quiet, we are going to leave the highway in the next exit"
And they started to walk by the highway exits, which lead to the Jefferson Avenue, one of the city's main avenues. The area was full of warehouses, so the tanks had a limited visibility "Something is moving in front of us" that was all that the tank crew said before they where hit by a ray of the invaders
"Take cover" Stan ordered
"We are trapped" Beast Boy noticed
"And the tank is overheating" Raven added
"Here comes the other tank" a solder said
The second tank over passed the first and entered in the avenue firing his main gun and the co-axial machine gun at maximum speed, but it was also hit by the ray
"The tank has stop firing, this is the end" a solider said
Quickly the combat turned into a disaster with both tanks neutralized; there is nothing that the conscripts can do with their small arms
"We need to get out of here Lieutenant, the fuel tank will explode in any moment" Raven said
"Yes, you are right, EVEREBOY PULL BACK TO THE BRIGE" Stan ordered, when he take a look for the last time to the tank he said "TAKE COVER IT'S GONNA BLOW"
When the fuel tank exploded with the ammo the air around them seem to be alive
"And the soldiers of the other tank" someone asked
"They are here in the bridge with us" Stan answered
"Hey Lieutenant, come here to see this" Beast Boy said
"I'm on my way" when he was heading for Beast Boy position, the other tank exploded, but it didn't look so terrible for Stan
"Can you see it Lieutenant'"
"Yeah, I can see them too well"
For the first time they could se the invaders. They where like Beetles, but much more bigger, about 1.50 meters tall, stand on their back legs, and making some high pitch noised
"They couldn't have choose a worst place to be, we can wipe out them from here"
"Do you that the bullets affect them? Beast Boy asked
"Absolutely, look over there" and Stan pointed to some dead beetles "those where killed by the tank's attack"
"Then prepare you rifle Lieutenant, we can kill a dozen at least"
"No, we can kill a dozen, but we will loose a unique opportunity to kill all of them, we must take advantage of the bad position. You will stay here with other soldiers, I will explain the situation to the Major
"Yes, Sir" Beast Boy responded
When Stan headed to see the Major, he said to some conscripts "You go to the middle of the bridge and watch out for any enemy movement"
Meanwhile Jinx managed to find Raven among the troops
"Thanks heaven that you are alive Raven, do you know where Beast Boy is?"
"Yes, he is on the bridge, the Lieutenant give us orders to go over there, so le let's go"
Stan went to the rear lines, where the Corporal Wilson have retreated the troops after the failures of the tanks
"Major, I have plan that could work"
"What is it Lieutenant?", he asked
"It seems that the invader doesn't know about land warfare, and they positioned themselves and the ray-gun in a position, where we can attack them easily. So I think that mortar and anti-armor rockets from the bridge on the highway to wipe them out, and then infantry to end the job"
The plan was received with enthusiasm
"Very Well Lieutenant, now we are going to prepare the troops for the attack"
Minutes later the bridge over the highway was full of activity
"Nobody make any noise, the attack must be a complete surprise" Said the Major
Meanwhile Stan returned with the rest of the conscripts "Any movement?" he asked
"Not a single movement2 Raven responded
"You were right Lieutenant. This is a perfect chance, a well aimed strike and we will kill al these bugs" The Corporal commented
"Here is the new plan" Stan explained "We have to go back to the highway exit, and wait for the signal. The mortars fire; and charge against the "bugs", understood?
"Yes, Sir" The Conscripts answered
The preparations concluded
"Everything is ready Sir" A soldier informed to the Major
"Right" He responded
With a calm look. The Major revisited the mortars team and the soldiers with the Anti-Armor rockets, who only waited a signal to open fire
"At the order of Fire, the mortars will shoot, that will be the signal for everyone else, understood?"
"Understood, Sir"
The troops where nervous, this men realized that the attack has to inflict as much damage as the could, because if the invaders counter-attacked with the ray, they have nothing that could match it
The Major continued "The fire of the Anti-Armor rockets will concentrate into the "reflector", the rest against the personal"
In a complete silence the soldiers made the last adjustments, the aiming of the first round was decisive
"FIRE" The Major screamed
When the first rounds of the mortar where on mid-air, the have already been reloaded. A series of explosions shocked the avenue while the rest of the troops fired against the ray gun
"CHARGE! Kill 'em all" Stan screamed
The hate, the terror of been surrounded by the death, made them to attack with a great fury
Two bugs, maybe the only survivors of the attack tried to operate the ray, but they where killed instantly by the conscripts
They have controlled the position, but there where no "hurrah" or any cheering, they just at the asphalt completely destroyed by the mortars fire and the dead bodies of the bugs. Shortly after the troops on the bridge, along with a tank reunited with them
"Heh, we kicked their asses" Beast Boy said proud
"Don't be so sure about that" Jinx responded and to confirm that a Corporal said "Hey Major look over there"
"A counter-attack"
"They are charging against us" Some soldiers commented
"FIRE, keep them away" The Major ordered
This time, from the city several bugs charged against the troops. They hit them hard, many where killed, but others ended the charge with a big jump
In the middle of the combat Beast Boy saw that Raven was about to be attacked by the back by a bug, so he managed to scream her name and unload a magazine on the bug. "Are you OK?" asked to her, and she nodded "Cover me while I reload" Said Beast Boy
"Don't worry I will protect you" Raven said as she killed a bug
A moment later the soldiers have killed the last bug. Then Stan noticed something that frightened him, another ray-gun was towed by some bugs from a lateral street
"Another ray-gun" he screamed "Take cover" he ordered
But before the invaders could fire the gun. It was destroyed with a precise shoot from the tank that was behind the soldiers. This marked the end of the battle
The Major was already reunited with the officers, Stan included
"Gentlemen" He said "The orders are quite simple, until we are defeated. We won't stop the advance into the city". "Now" he continued "After the wounded are taken to the rear lines, I will give the order to continue the advance into the city"
Half an hour later the troops where ready to continue and the order was given by the Major "LET'S MOVE"
A common though was among the soldiers "What will depart the destiny for them in the next battle"