Chapter VII:
A real movie escape. That was what the action carried out by "Hartmann's Squadron" could be called. They had managed to fight their way through the "Shadow Neuroi", causing them serious casualties and even knocked out a couple of ships with a "tank" designed by the Kanker slaves. Now they were moving towards the center of Berlin, through the empty, desolate streets, with no one around out of fear or because many had managed to flee in time, leaving behind their lives, possessions and other belongings that now lay in enemy hands.
- We could have flown away.- Sarah breathed after having been running with the others and proposed, but Erica shook her head.
- No, it's too dangerous and the enemy Artillery is installed all over the Capital.- The blonde pointed out seriously.- If we did that, we would have had many problems, including the arrival of enemy ships. In short, we would end up surrounded and without ammunition.- She detailed and it was then that she noticed Ed, who was watching from the side of the alley and signaled for them to follow his lead.
- How much farther to the Center?.-Jimmy asked.
- Not much, just keep running and if you see the "Shadow", shoot with everything you have.- Answered the German, while they resumed their march.
The advance towards the Center was full of obstacles, many streets had been closed with barricades, which were placed by the population as a way to resist against the enemy thrust but they were not of much help. Fires could also be seen in many buildings, skyscrapers and even in those belonging to the national government of Karsland. The same situation was repeated with overturned and burning cars, the smell of fuel mixed with gunpowder invaded the nostrils of those present, giving an acid touch to the air.
Remnants of the war machines of the country's armed forces lay everywhere, including tanks, trucks and artillery. Many had had to be evacuated to other regions where "The Resistance" maintained a tight grip on their strongholds, securing the main routes for civilians fleeing the war in terror to reach.
They slipped through a series of alleys and alleys that allowed them to avoid the areas of greatest enemy concentration. Time was against them, the operation to liberate Karsland was being delayed and the same could be happening in the other countries as well. However, Commander Wilcke was confident that the campaigns could be carried out successfully and that they would drive the enemy out of Europe.
A car a few meters away from her position was blown up by a group of "Resistance" members, it was loaded with explosives and they detonated it against an enemy checkpoint, while the military and civilian members charged the enemy. Erica saw them, her comrades needed help so she took the safety off their weapons, adjusted her Officer's plate cap and started firing at the "Shadow Neuroi" of the attacked place.
- Cover me!.- The blonde girl demanded. It seemed an extremely suicidal idea, who had the audacity to face a Detachment that outnumbered them. Even so, the motivation and determination to defend their homeland from the invading claws drove anyone to throw themselves against the enemy lines, ready to sacrifice everything for the future of others.
In an act to protect the members of "The Resistance", Erica turned her weapons to the right of the checkpoint. Ed ran towards her and protected her when an opponent jumped from a building to take her by surprise and once that one had fallen, more military and civilians who were hiding in the buildings, businesses and subway stations began to emerge, forming a real mass, a human "swarm" that crashed into the opponents and ran to where the barricades were. One by one, the "Shadow" members began to find themselves in serious trouble from the attacks they were receiving and, unable to control them, began to give ground to the defenders.
- Comrades, I am Erica Hartmann, one of the members of the "Strike Witches" and I am accompanied by my boyfriend and my friends!. We have come to liberate Karsland from the clutches of the Kankers. Today will be the day when we will celebrate our victory over them!.- Exclaimed the girl, charged with emotion, she glowed with will, a deep emotion that illuminated the faces of those who had lost all trace of hope and now, just like the "Sacred Fire" that Prometheus stole from the Gods to give to the men who were expelled from "Olympus", it shone on their faces and soon there was a single clamor, a battle cry that resounded over all of Berlin.
Soon, the enemy defenses began to give way, "The Resistance", due to the arrival of Erica's "Squadron", had brought a deep motivation for the people to fight against the invaders and as time went by, news began to arrive from the interior of the country and in Berlin, where May maintained a deep defense but that, little by little, was falling before the onslaught of her adversary. The reports did not stop coming in, the danger of a real rebellion took shape and now huge losses were being reported among the "Shadow" ranks by the military who were putting up a fight and pushing back their forces, regaining ground, little by little.
The blonde pounded hard on the table, she couldn't believe they were having trouble and, to make matters worse, a video call, on behalf of her sisters, had reached her. She took a breath and turned off the device. She did not want to talk, it was not the time, so she decided to carry out an extremely important action that could turn the situation around, to twist the arm of the defenders and for this she was counting on the "Fifth Hive" that was in an unknown area and could be of use to her.
- "There is no need to talk. I have everything under control. It's just a small insurrection, one that can be crushed in a matter of minutes".- She gave herself self-confidence and from there she went on to see that her Armies were already in formation.-"It will take me a while to regroup my hosts but, when the "Fifth Hive" is here, everything will have changed. Don't give up, May. You're a Kanker, Grandpa is backing us. He knows we will win".- She smiled and then relaxed in her chair.- "Let them do what they want, they know very well that their hope will disappear and they will be consumed by the Darkness. They don't know anything, they are just snooty, a bunch of stupid girls who should be involved in other matters".- She added and then set about organizing the counter-offensive.
[A short chapter but it is the prelude to what will happen in the next one, which will be the end of this "Arc". Be careful, it will be very long and it will cover the fights for the liberation of Karsland and with it we will go to the next one. There are only two left.
I send my regards to Matfix and Franco M. Romano. Sorry if the chapter is short. I'm going to leave it on hiatus for a few days to think about the end of this Saga and I'll be back this week to write it.
See you, friends and good Sunday from me].
