Shadowclan's forces have been falling back faster than we could have imagined. We managed to get Graystripe back in the group. I believe we spent more time on the road for the past three weeks than we did in combat. We took Antwerp just 11 days after liberating Paris but that meant we didn't clear the port. We knew this momentum would eventually grind to a halt but we didn't know when as of yet. However, Bluestar still had a few tricks up her sleeve.
Fireheart was resting in a house with Graystripe and Ravenpaw as the three friends were catching up on old times.
"So how does it feel to be back in Thunderclan Graystripe?" Fireheart asked.
"Good I guess, Stormkit and Featherkit are ready to be privates for Riverclan." Graystripe told Fireheart about the news.
"Great. I think we should have some Thunderclan, Riverclan action?" Fireheart asked as he wanted to be by Mistyfoot and Leopardfur's side once more.
"Not as of now, Riverclan is sitting out of combat for the next few days." Graystripe told Fireheart about what was currently going on. "Crookedstar has died." Fireheart froze at the news that Riverclan's leader was no longer with them.
"What killed him?" Fireheart asked.
"I guess the sickness got to him and his injuries he sustained that ended up killing Graypool only made it worse." Graystripe told Fireheart about what had happened.
"So Leopardfur is taking over as the leader?" Fireheart asked.
"Yeah but I think Riverclan wants to say their goodbyes before Leopardfur takes the promotion." Graystripe told Fireheart about what was going to happen.
"Hey at least you can tell Leopardfur that she's beautiful and the promotion fits her perfectly." Ravenpaw added to the conversation.
"I'll tell that to Leopardfur when she comes around. At least Crookedstar got what he wished for." Fireheart sighed. Barley appeared with two dogs following him, a fellow Chinese pug and a Phillipino Pekingese.
"Hey Barley what's up?" Ravenpaw asked his friend about any news.
"It turns out the momentum is slowing down but we managed to do some recon ahead and the Netherlands is a prime target. Mitchell, Vasily and Makarov ran on ahead into the Netherlands to get the Pangolins there to take out Shadowclan cats that might be assisting in Bluestar's operation." Barley told Ravenpaw that his recon group got fractured in half and the first half ran off for some bizarre reason and the other half made it back.
"Are you sure they're going to be okay?" Ravenpaw asked Barley if the misfit were going to survive.
"Yeah the blubbo's manage to get themselves into situations, they can get themselves out of it. I just received a telegram from Makarov that he and the group managed to make it to Arnhem by the Rhine river." Barley told Ravenpaw about what exactly happened. Fireheart was confused.
"Wait wait wait, hold up Barley, Bluestar's preparing for something big?" Fireheart asked as he wanted to make sure if this was true.
"Yep and it will begin tomorrow." Barley replied. Fireheart looked at the two faces that seem to be unfamiliar to him.
"Who are they?" Fireheart asked. He didn't recognize them.
"Oh the pug is Bao and the Pekingese is Bayani." Barley introduced Fireheart to his friends. He then turned to introduce Bao and Bayani to Ravenpaw's friends. "Bao, Bayani, this is Fireheart, Thunderclan's deputy and Graystripe, they're good friends of Ravenpaw." Barley introduced them to each other. Bao walked forward.
"So you're Fireheart huh? Nice to meet you." Bao greeted him warmly. The pug took Fireheart's paw and shook it with delight. Bayani came forward.
"So you're Thunderclan's deputy. How's Bluestar holding up?" Bayani was more than happy to see Fireheart.
"Wait, you know Bluestar Bayani?" Fireheart asked.
"Yeah I write to her from time to time. I haven't seen her in years. You think she's doing fine?" Bayani responded as he wanted to see an old friend of his.
"Not exactly, it's a bit of a long story." Fireheart told Bayani that Bluestar wasn't fine but instead something was happening to her.
"You think I can see her?" Bayani asked Fireheart if he could see his friend.
"Bluestar's currently in a meeting with Tallstar and I don't think she's open to visitors at this time." Fireheart responded.
"Oh, she's probably rambling with Tallstar over something big that Barley is talking about." Bayani responded.
"Wait, you know about this?" Fireheart asked if they knew what Bluestar had in mind. Bayani couldn't respond so Bao came forth to do that for him.
"Not quite, we only know bits and pieces of it but we were able to quickly piece that together." Bao responded.
"Okay good. So we should be prepared to do this?" Fireheart asked if this was going to be possible.
"Yeah definitely, we should see what the high command thinks of it." Bao nodded. They then began to walk away.
Tallstar and Bluestar were having words with the elders about this operation. Tallstar seemed concerned.
"The plan that I agreed to with Bernard will be that we are going to land a Windclan irregular and two Thunderclan irregulars ahead. It will be their job to breach the Siegfried line and to cross the Rhine River in the Netherlands. Thunderclan and Windclan's job is to link up with the irregulars and capture all the strategic points. Once done we can continue our push on the Ruhr." Bluestar began as she wanted to be able to cross the river in several places and breach Shadowclan's fortified line of defense. Smallear, Dappletail and Oneeye nodded with approval but Tallstar seemed hesitant.
"I know this front will be something along the lines of attacking them along those bridges in Holland but Dwight is giving this limited priority as the battle of Aachen is going to start up and you'll be needed elsewhere with Riverclan. Bernard is a real bloody mad-lad thinking that this will be successful. I think Bernard is trying to go, a bridge too far." Tallstar expressed to Bluestar that Bernard's plan was audacious and would most likely not succeed.
"Bernard told me you will be needed to provide air support while XXX corps spearheads the way through. Most of our tanks, trucks and Half Tracks will be needed for this operation." Bluestar mewed before she told Tallstar about it. She handed him a map for him to look it over.
"You're expecting the XXX corps to make 63 miles in two days?" Tallstar asked as this seemed ridiculous to him. Bluestar looked at Tallstar as she was ready to berate Windclan's leader.
"My problem is I just don't need drop zones, I need drop zones I can hold and defend." Bluestar told Tallstar that he needed to greenlight this plan to continue the momentum.
"I understand Bluestar but we really think we found the right place." Tallstar gulped. He was pushed into a corner and needed to give in to Bluestar's demands despite his concern.
"Where in the dark forest is it?" Bluestar asked Tallstar if he could point it out on the map.
"Eh.. it's not on this map but it should be…" Tallstar told Bluestar before he walked forward to tell her about the plan. "Excuse me ma'am. It should be about here." Tallstar pointed to a spot on the table to his left of the map. Windclan irregulars were going to be dropped further westward than anticipated. "Well with this I think the plan will be greenlighted." Bluestar smiled as she got what she wanted.
"Okay the plan is a go. We're ready." Bluestar told Tallstar as she got out of his face. Thunderclan and Windclan were going to have their audacious push northward.
Accomplishing 63 miles in two days was going to be easier said than done.
September 17th, 1944, Belgian-Dutch border: 13:00
Planes went overhead as the radio buzzed with Tallstar's voice. Bluestar and the others were waiting for the results that were going to be called out. Everyone huddled around their tanks and their half tracks while they were going to make the push inland to the drop zones. They hoped to make Bluestar's goal and arrive there in 48 hours.
"This is Tallstar from the fighter escort, the paratroopers had been dropped and supplies glided in. Windclan irregulars said they can hold for four days but I think you will arrive at Arnhem in eight so be quick about it. I also shot up and destroyed three trucks carrying Shadowclan cats though the Arnhem landings have fallen eight miles short." Tallstar gave the news. They managed to catch Shadowclan by surprise and they were tied up with fighting the irregulars. Bluestar knew that was their moment to move.
"Okay thanks Tallstar, I'm assuming you're heading back to rearm and refuel?" Bluestar asked.
"Yeah, I'm planning on doing another sortie an hour from now to keep Shadowclan at bay and clear the path for you." Tallstar responded. Bluestar nodded.
"All cats board the halftracks." Bluestar gave the order. Thunderclan Shermans were going to lead the way as halftracks and rocket mounted Xylophones were going to be supporting the way. They did so as Goldenflower cocked the handle to her M2 machine gun. The halftracks began moving out next, following behind the tanks. Fireheart was in Goldenflower's halftrack along with Cloudpaw, Graystripe, Ravenpaw, Brindleface, Fernpaw, Ashpaw, Brightpaw, Whitestorm, Bluestar, Barley, Bao and Bayani. The others were in another halftrack following up behind.
"I am impressed with Cloudpaw's performance so far from when we took back Paris and up until now. I think I might as well promote him and make him a support gunner even though I just want three." Bluestar told Fireheart that she was impressed with how Cloudpaw has been performing.
"You think he's worthy of becoming a warrior?" Fireheart asked Bluestar if she was willing to promote Cloudpaw.
"Yep. Cloudpaw is worthy of being promoted." Bluestar responded. Fireheart nodded but something was sticking to his brain.
"What about Swiftpaw, Brightpaw and Thornpaw? Are they worthy of being promoted?" Fireheart asked Bluestar if they were going to get the promotion.
"I'm afraid not as of now as Cloudpaw is the only one taking the form of any sort of gallantry I've wanted to see. I think he might as well single handedly finish the war for us." Bluestar mewed. Goldenflower looked at Bluestar.
"I'm on M2 duty and I've decided to dismount my lighter browning for Cloudpaw as well as giving him several belts of ammunition. If he handles that machine gun well with a shotgun, he might as well take my place." Goldenflower responded. Bao and Bayani were holding Cloudpaw's other guns he had except for his webley which he kept in its holster. "Cloudpaw's also got a disintegrating belt on him as we don't need a cloth belt dragging over the mud, this is the only good road into the Netherlands."
"That is expected." Fireheart responded. Cloudpaw was excited but he also seemed nervous. They were moving out on the only good road and they were traveling in single file which leaves them a big target. Bluestar was looking ahead but they got stuck behind Windclan who were also using the same road.
"Stargleam, what in the Dark Forest is this? Driver please get us around Windclan's army?" Bluestar asked as she didn't want to get stuck behind Windclan. The driver blew the horn to get Windclan off the road. Bluestar then got out a megaphone as she wanted to shout at Windclan's cats. "Hey Deadfoot! Are you stuck in first gear or something?" Bluestar shouted to Deadfoot through the megaphone.
"I say what's the rush? We'll be across the Rhine in three days." Deadfoot told Bluestar that they will cross the Rhine in a few days and there was no need to rush it. "Unless there's a Shadowclan Panzer Division that exists in this story that we don't know about?" Onewhisker laughed as he seemed relaxed.
"I would suggest according to Tallstar's intelligence that Shadowclan's army is mostly made up of kits and elders at this point." Onewhisker told Deadfoot as he added to the joke. Suddenly an M4 Sherman exploded into flames as the Shermans ahead were under fire and returning fire back. "Oh bugger, could our intelligence be wrong?" Onewhisker asked as the half tracks turned and began firing on the AT guns.
"Windclan intelligence is wrong. No, no, that will be wildly out of character." Deadfoot responded. Bluestar turned as she got out her binoculars to see what was firing at them.
"Stargleam! It's a bunch of Anti-tank guns!" Bluestar shouted as they had been caught off guard. Goldenflower rotated the machine gun and began peppering it at the AT guns. "Cover us Goldenflower. Everyone out now!" Bluestar hopped out of the Halftrack while Goldenflower and a few others were peppering the AT position with their .50 cals. Bluestar went to the rear and opened the doors. "Come on!" Fireheart was the first to lead the group while AT shots rang out ahead.
"Everyone follow me, we need to get the rest of the platoon out here. We're going to make our charge at those AT guns. I bet there are only two of them ahead." Fireheart instructed, the group began moving out as they were definitely going to attempt a flanking attack. Cloudpaw felt awkward walking around on the muddy ground as he was carrying a belt fed .30 caliber machine gun in his paws. Something the weapon nor him were suited for. Cloudpaw was trying to keep his balance as he began peppering at what seemed to be the target ahead. Cloudpaw was rattled by every few shots from the M1919A4.
"Cloudpaw, stop firing, you're going to lose your balance." Brightpaw told him. She placed her paws over him as Cloudpaw regained his balance. Several cats were firing ahead and moving up a few feet to fire again.
"Thanks Brightpaw, that position is definitely going to be a stubborn one." Cloudpaw told her. He then began to move up with her to catch up to the squad. Fireheart turned his head to see the two apprentices approach.
"Okay we have two AT guns on the point, in that treeline. We need to knock them out if we're to keep moving. We're going to take this land today." Fireheart told the group. He raised his carbine and kept firing. Cloudpaw decided to get a little closer to the first AT crew with Brightpaw. He raised the machine gun and began peppering at the position. A shadowclan cat was cut down while the AT gun turned to fire on the approaching group of Thunderclan cats. They then fired. The shot hits the ground and bounced upward as it flew away.
"That was lucky." Bao responded while firing the M1 Garand. He then moved up as the group continued firing ahead. Ashpaw went past Cloudpaw and Brightpaw as the rest of the group was slowly catching up. Ashpaw pulled out the Bazooka and aimed it at the second AT crew. He fired the rocket into the gun and blew it up along with the crew.
"One down! One to go." Ashpaw shouted. Fernpaw came forth and peppered the position with the BAR she had. The apprentices were moving up into the forest. The second AT crew were trying to take out more tanks but they were being whittled down as Cloudpaw continued peppering the gun crew with bullets. Within moments, the last Shadowclan cats on the second AT gun were taken out. Excited with the news, the apprentices raced back with the news.
"Bluestar, both guns have been neutralized." Cloudpaw told Bluestar about the news.
"Great. We lost about five tanks so far and this is a problem. Looks like we're leaving the kits, Goldenflower and Speckletail behind and carrying this battle on foot." Bluestar told the group that this battle needed to resume but it would be some time before the road would be clear enough to carry the battle on with the armored support.
"More walking in the mud." Swiftpaw grumbled. Cloudpaw shrugged as he wasn't going to say anything.
"Everyone let's move, Deadfoot and his group are going to stay behind to help clear the road." Bluestar mewed. She turned and began the march with the others following behind her. They were heading into unknown territory while Bulldozer Shermans were going to clear the destroyed tanks from the road.
Bluestar and the group had been marching for a mile in the mud while they were going to wait for the road to be cleared.
"Oh Starclan, I hate the mud." Cinderpelt muttered while she was trying to keep pace with the rest of the group.
"We've been on the move for the past few hours and we've just carving our way through. Those fighter bombers have been pounding the enemy into oblivion in this sector." Brackenfur told Cinderpelt to cheer up at least. The cats then entered a bombed out trench, exhausted from walking.
"Okay we'll rest here for a bit before we can keep moving." Bluestar told the group. Dustpelt placed down his radio as he was going to contact Deadfoot about the road. Fernpaw then collapsed.
"I'm so tired." Fernpaw huffed before she laid her head on the machine gun.
"So how far have we advanced?" Fireheart asked. He wanted to make sure this was recorded and see how far they were going to get. If Deadfoot said earlier that they were going to be across the Rhine in three days, they needed to do a bit of math.
"Not sure for certain." Bluestar told Fireheart. Fireheart turned to Dustpelt.
"Hey you still have the radio on you?" Fireheart asked Dustpelt. Dustpelt nodded as he handed Fireheart the radio. "Deadfoot, where are you? Are you on the move?" Fireheart asked.
"Yeah, we got stopped three times as of today and you advanced on without us, thirteen tanks are down so far today and we only advanced about seven miles. We can't send the tanks off the road as this is the only good road between the starting point and Arnhem. You're three miles ahead and you will be advancing in the morning so you're cut off from supplies and reinforcements so you'll have to hold everything you have until we get there." Deadfoot laid out the situation. Bluestar advanced ten miles so far but they were on their own and couldn't get more ammunition, food or reinforcements until Deadfoot arrived with XXX corps.
"Okay we'll be waiting for you." Fireheart told Deadfoot.
"Yeah a bridge is being constructed to cross the creek so I'm telling Tallstar to double the night attacks and glide an extra fifty cats to your position as well as some artillery pieces to help you hold the line." Deadfoot told Fireheart that reinforcements were coming by air.
"Hopefully they will arrive tonight. We don't expect to last long in a night attack." Fireheart told Deadfoot.
"Don't worry, we're on our way." Deadfoot responded. He hung up the radio as several cats were preparing defenses. Cloudpaw was relieved to not be carrying a machine gun around.
"Everyone needs to be awake and ready for tonight. If any attack comes, get ready to throw it back." Bluestar told the group. The cats nodded while the two dogs shrugged. Bao got out the harmonica he was carrying on him and began to play it. They were going to be put to the test.
It was an hour after midnight when they heard movement. Everyone had been staying awake in preparation for this, after using up much of today's ammo in the march to this position. Bluestar's platoon was running low on ammo, Barley, Ravenpaw and Bayani to some extent were still good with ammo as they had been scavenging off of the fallen Shadowclan cats for bullets. Cloudpaw was keeping a look out with his binoculars.
"I can still see nothing. We're out of coffee and chocolate at this point so we're going to probably fall asleep when Deadfoot and XXX corps arrive." Cloudpaw made some observations.
"Still nothing?" Fernpaw asked.
"Yeah…" Cloudpaw paused when he spotted light moving to them. "Could this be the glider group?" Cloudpaw asked. Cloudpaw continued to study the light to see dogs on bicycles approaching them. Some were pausing to fire at them. "Enemies approaching!" Cloudpaw shouted. The cats all got up as they had been alerted to what was happening. Fireheart ran to Cloudpaw and took the binoculars from him to make sure what he said was true.
"Yeah they're coming alright. Everyone to your positions, we're holding this trench." Fireheart announced. The dogs were appearing from the night like ragged ghosts on bikes. They were determined to take this position.
"Since we're running low on ammo, we're going to wait for them to get close before we open fire so a killing shot would be guaranteed." Bluestar told them that they were going to wait for the enemy to get close. "Keep your heads down." Bluestar instructed them to wait but stay out of range of the bullets. The cats kept their heads down as the dogs advanced within 100 meters of the trench.
"Now, open fire!" Fireheart shouted. The cats and the two dogs in the trench began opening fire on the dogs on the bicycles. A couple dogs were instantly shot. Cloudpaw was using the browning with Brightpaw feeding him. Cloudpaw was firing in small bursts as two or three bullets he needed on his diminished belt would be all that he needed to take one dog down. If he ran out of ammo, he was going to turn to his shotgun.
"We're going to get overrun. We don't have enough ammo to hold them off." Fernpaw told Bluestar that they were going to go dry from the amount of enemies that were on the field. Fernpaw loaded her last BAR magazine into her gun before cocking the handle.
"Use everything and make every shot count." Bluestar told Fernpaw while she kept firing her Thompson. Cloudpaw looked at his belt of ammo, he had taken down several dogs but they kept getting closer to his position. He was down to his last few rounds as well so he decided to make sure they counted. Two dogs got close and Cloudpaw decided to let the gun rip, the two dogs were chopped down quickly as the bikes they were on were shredded.
"We're out Brightpaw." Cloudpaw told his friend. Brightpaw picked up her Carbine while Cloudpaw got out the Trench gun. Now the real butchering was going to being. One machine gun was out of ammo and the other two were about to go silent. The dogs decided to mount an all out charge in an effort to take the trench.
"Okay everyone, be prepared to hold!" Bluestar called out. Two Shadowclan jeeps showed up and began spraying their positions to assist the dogs with the fighting. Ravenpaw, Barley and Bayani were still firing away to keep the dogs at bay from their section of the trench. Barley noticed the jeeps trying to assist them.
"Ashpaw get out your bazooka." Barley called out. Ashpaw got out the bazooka that Barley had told him.
"I only have one rocket left on me." Ashpaw told Barley.
"Take out the jeep." Barley shouted to Ashpaw. Ashpaw aimed the long tube before he fired, the rocket smashed one of the jeeps causing the Shadowclan cats inside to light up like a candle wick. The cats scrambled around while the second jeep kept firing.
"We don't know how much longer we can keep this attack up for?" Graystripe asked. Fireheart had turned to his sidearm as he was using that up to fight the dogs. Cloudpaw blasted a dog with the trench gun he had to try to keep them at bay.
"We need help. We're going to get overrun here." Fireheart called out. Suddenly the jeep ahead exploded as the dogs were taken by surprise. Fifty Thunderclan cats were now approaching from the southwest, mounting an assault to drive them back.
"I wouldn't say for sure." Sandstorm mewed. The cats approached the area firing wildly while approaching the trench, that wasn't the only surprise. A huge group of dogs were blown up as the tanks were arriving along the road.
"I say you wanted some flare right?" Deadfoot asked while the armor continued down the road.
"Deadfoot, you just arrived at the nick of time, we were about to get overrun here." Fireheart mewed for his friend. Onewhisker was peppering the retreating dogs with the Bren gun he had while they moved forward.
"I know, good thing we did, we're going to go ahead to take the first city and clear the way to Arnhem. You deserve the rest from the march you pulled off." Deadfoot told Bluestar that her group needed to be replenished if they were going to continue the push.
"We love to take the rest." Bluestar mewed to Deadfoot.
"Halftracks to the rear, the traffic jam took us forever to reach this position." Deadfoot mewed. Bluestar and the group exited the trench and made their way to the half tracks while taking their guns with them.
Eindhoven fell the next day while Bluestar and the platoon rested. Deadfoot's group continued on with XXX corps to soften the path up for us to take the second city of Nijmegen. We weren't going to stay for very long as we're about to embark on another dangerous mission.
September 20th, 1944, Nijmegen, Netherlands: 13:29
"Okay we're preparing to assault the crossing to get to the other side of the river Waal to secure the bridge crossing. Deadfoot is assaulting the bridge but he's being held up by stiff resistance. Tallstar is preparing cover from the air upon which he's doing everything he can to keep the belligerent defenders of Arnhem to keep fighting, they haven't taken the bridge and they are preparing to evacuate." Bluestar told the group about what their objectives were. "Any questions? Good! Let's go." Bluestar told the group that if they had any questions they should answer them now but like last time she didn't give them the chance to ask.
"To the assault boats now." Fireheart commanded. There were a total of three assault boats, each of which could take up to twelve. Fireheart got in with the apprentices, Sandstorm, Graystripe, Ravenpaw, Barley and Dustpelt. "Okay I want you all to begin rowing us as fast as possible, we need to cross the river with the others. A hundred of these boats are crossing the river." Thornpaw looked down into the assault boats that they were going to be using and noticed there was a shortage of one piece of important equipment.
"There's only two oars in these, how are we going to row?" Thornpaw asked.
"Use your rifle butts if you have to but make sure all guns are empty and ammunition in pouches. Anyone who wants to provide cover for the others. Do so." Fireheart instructed everyone. Cloudpaw hastily sets up the M1919A4 on his boat loading a 250 round belt into it. While the boat was less than ideal, he was going to make use of trying to cover Fireheart.
"Row everyone!" Bluestar called out to her boat to begin moving.
"Come on!" Fireheart shouted. Two warriors from another assault boat pushed this one into the water for them. Fireheart grabbed an oar and began to paddle. Cloudpaw kept a vigil.
"So how far do you think we need to paddle?" Swiftpaw asked as he kept paddling.
"About 400 meters at most so that's why I want to do this fast." Fireheart told Swiftpaw as they began to paddle. Shadowclan cats on the opposite side of the river noticed the assault boats that were beginning towards them. Blackfoot was standing on the opposite bank.
"Well here they come, fire!" Blackfoot gave the order. Two artillery guns and a mortar began firing on the river to take out the assault boats. Blackfoot began to walk away in case someone called an airstrike. Explosions began to rip the river water as two machine guns opened fire at the river to try taking down the assault boats.
"Someone's trying to fire at us. Stay on mission." Bluestar shouted for the others to not chicken out. Some of the explosions were already causing one of the assault boats to capsize from the amount of water it took on. Cloudpaw lifted the rear sight up to the Browning machine gun and dialed in how far the enemy was. He studied the machine gun flashes and began firing the browning in return.
"Keep paddling, I'll try to keep you covered." Cloudpaw called out. He kept firing away to try to take out the first machine gun crew. Another assault boat exploded from a direct hit from one of the artillery guns.
"You heard my nephew, keep rowing!" Fireheart shouted. He tried to row as fast as the assault boat was letting him. Some of the assault boats were now rowing in circles, trying to escape their fate. Fireheart knew that all three of Thunderclan's boats were only going forward. Cloudpaw kept peppering the machine gun as one of the bullets struck the Shadowclan machine gunner in the skull. The gun fell silent for a moment before the other cat tried to take over and keep up the fire but Cloudpaw was a step ahead of this cat. He decided to let a burst loose and cuts the second Shadowclan cat in half. Once the first machine gun had been neutralized, Cloudpaw turned the browning and began firing on the second machine gun.
"Nice firing Cloudpaw." Brightpaw told him while she was rowing the assault boat with the butt of her rifle. Suddenly another assault boat exploded while two more capsized. They were losing boats as they continued to get closer. Cloudpaw didn't respond. Suddenly an explosion was heard as Fireheart's group was doused with water.
"Yuck, I hate water." Fernpaw grumbled. She looked up as a group of five aircraft flew overhead, they were going to soften the ground ahead so that Thunderclan and Windclan could finally take the city and move in on Arnhem.
"Just keep rowing, We're bound to make it." Graystripe told Fernpaw that they needed to keep going. Cloudpaw was still firing his bursts away but he was beginning to run low on ammo again.
"Gun's running out of bullets, we should be on the other side by now." Cloudpaw mewed as another assault craft capsized.
"Yeah we should, our boats are sinking." Bluestar told Cloudpaw from the other boat. Finally, the second machine gun had been neutralized but they had to contest with the artillery pieces and the mortar.
"How much farther to go?" Fireheart asked Sandstorm.
"Another 20 meters." Sandstorm told him.
"Okay everyone, paddle as fast as you can, we need to get to the other side, both machine guns have been neutralized and now we have to clear the guns." Fireheart told the group. They began to pick up their pace while Cloudpaw was letting the machine gun breathe after firing away a good chunk of the belt. Finally after twenty minutes of furious rowing under heavy fire, Fireheart's assault raft made it to the other side and he was the first to get out. "Everyone out!" Fireheart shouted. All of the cats got out as Cloudpaw grabbed the machine gun and continued to pepper it to provide cover.
Fireheart, Sandstorm and Brightpaw began to ascend the bank as Cloudpaw followed up after them. The others were providing cover and to fight the Shadowclan cats on the bank as more assault boats arrived and more cats joined the fight. Fireheart and Cloudpaw were the first to make it to the top as Cloudpaw sprayed the browning into the mortar pit, turning the Shadowclan cats into swiss cheese. Once out of ammo, Cloudpaw ditched the Browning and pulled out the Trench gun and blasted a charging Shadowclan cat before he began to fire on the crew of the right artillery gun. Whitestorm and Longtail joined in as they mercilessly took no prisoners. The other Thunderclan cats were going to secure the rest of the bridge. Fierce fighting had finally been brought to a swift end.
"It's over. We took the bridge." Whitestorm huffed. Cloudpaw picked up the Browning he had ditched when fighting had come to an end.
"Not my ideal choice of weaponry." Cloudpaw admitted. Fireheart looked ahead as Deadfoot came to the other side of the bridge.
"Bridge taken but I think it might be too late to take the last bridge at Arnhem. We're just going there to rescue the irregulars." Deadfoot told Fireheart that they had a new change of plan, they had failed to secure the bridge over the Rhine but hey, they liberated two Dutch cities along the way. Now all that needed to be done was rescue whoever was still alive.
Bluestar, Tallstar and their respective groups were staying in a village outside of Arnhem a couple of days later, when Bao returned with Barley as they had some news for Fireheart.
"Did you rescue your friends?" Fireheart asked.
"Yeah, Mitchell, Vasily and Makarov managed to escape along with a few dozen pangolins with the help of Windclan irregulars and made it back. We're going to stay in the Netherlands for the time being as we heard you're going elsewhere. Cloudpaw can have his guns back." Bao told Fireheart about what was happening.
"Thank you very much Bao. And thanks for helping us out." Fireheart told the pug he was grateful for the help.
"Oh you're very much welcome. Bluestar told me to give you this." Bao told Fireheart. "Bernard told us the operation was 90% successful despite the high losses."
"Yeah Bluestar kind of went overreaching for personal glory." Fireheart nodded. Bao nodded.
"I have to get going, nice seeing you again." And with that the pug turned and began to walk away. Fireheart was left alone with the letter as he took out his combat knife and opened it up. He then began to read it and Sandstorm came to Fireheart.
"Who is it from?" Sandstorm asked. Fireheart froze when he figured out who was coming.
"Cloudpaw's mom is coming to the front lines." Fireheart responded.
[A/N]: Bluestar pretty much overreached this chapter to get what she wanted and this chapter was mostly a slugging match to complete and we're just at 50k words because of it. I can easily see this hit 100k words, possibly more by the time this is finished. We still have plenty more battles ahead and someone special is coming to visit as of the next chapter. Man my fingers are on fire.