Valkyria Chronicles
The Ninth regiment, along with the Vasal Defense Battalion and the Militia Third regiment, dug in on their side of the bridge while the Imperials did the same. Now they had to break through the enemy bridgehead a task that would be difficult and result in a large number of casualties. While both sides dig in General Amelia Everhart was on her way to meet with General Damon, Colonel York, and Captain Varrot. She knows what to expect from Damon but York and Varrot are wildcards and she does not like that.
The car rolled to a stop in front of the tent and she got out. The two guards saluted and she returned it. She pushed the tent flap open and entered. It was a moderately sized room with most of it taken up by a large table in the center. Captain Varrot and Colonel York were standing at the table looking over the various maps and reports. They looked up when they heard her enter and snapped to attention.
"General Everhart."
"Captain Varrot, Colonel York at ease." She walked over to the table and picked up one of the many scouting reports. It didn't give hard numbers on the Imperial's numbers and had very little information on what their defensives are. She dropped it and picked up another one finding much the same.
"Are our scouts' cowards or incompetent? This intelligence is woefully out of date. Have any more scouts been sent out?"
"We won't need scouts for this Everhart," Damon sneered at her last name as he walked in.
She shot him an ice-cold glare, "Intelligence is how you win wars, general."
He dropped a paper on the table, "There is all the intelligence you need."
She picked it up and looked over it. Her face was stone when she looked at him, "Is this accurate?"
"It is."
She stared at him for a moment longer and looked back at the paper. She handed it to York and waited for his reaction. She saw his pupils dilate as he read the report. He handed it to Varrot and reached for the map of Vasal and began looking it over. Varrot sighed and laid the report on the table.
"If we launch a frontal assault on that bridgehead we are going to lose a lot of troops."
Everhart agreed, "Indeed. Which is why we are not going to launch a frontal assault."
"Hold it right there Everhart. I am in command of this operation, not you. The Militia will break through the enemy bridgehead and secure the camp on the other side. Then the army will move across the bridge and clear out Vasal."
"General there is no way the Militia alone can accomplish that task. They would need the army's support," York protested.
"Bah, the Militia can handle it. Right Varrot."
"It is possible, but we would take unacceptable losses without the army's support." Amelia could tell that Varrot was holding back what she actually wanted to say.
"They're just farmhands colonel and if you're worried about casualties why aren't you out drafting us more farmhands Varrot? The attack will begin in two days, don't try anything Everhart." With that, he walked out of the tent leaving two stunned officers in his wake.
"Well, he hasn't changed a bit," Everhart said as he crossed her arms under her bust.
"You've met him?"
"At a political party. He is just as arrogant now as he was then."
"Varrot, you can not tell me you are going to carry out his orders. You'll be sending your troops into death!"
"There's nothing I can do colonel. He is my superior officer," she said with a resigned tone.
"General?"
"Sigh, as much as I hate to admit I can't do anything."
"What about sending a small strike team behind the Imperial's lines?"
"That might work. If a team could cause enough havoc behind Imperial lines it would make the Militia's job easier. Varrot, think you can find a squad who can get it done?"
"I do. Lieutenant Gunther proposed a plan to launch an attack on the Imperials with his squad, including his tank."
"He is going to swim a tank across the river?"
"I still don't believe it but he says it can be done."
"Alright, colonel continue to dig in I need to speak with my men."
"Ma'am."
She walked out of the tent and climbed into the car that was waiting for her. "Take me to the captured Imperial camp."
"Ma'am."
At the bridge, the Gallians continue to dig in for a possible Imperial counter-attack. Sands bags were placed, machine gun nests were set up in the windows, and the troops dug in. The Imperials would pay a high price if they wanted to retake the West bank of Vasal.
"So how'd you end up on the army Jess? I thought you wanted to be a teacher."
"My village is right on the border with the Empire. When war broke out my family had to flee. I couldn't just sit by while my country was invaded so I enlisted."
"And now you're a sergeant, you must have impressed someone."
"Yeah, I guess I did. Hey, is your mom alright? I know she lived close to the border."
"She's fine. She's living in Randgriz with her father now. Once I get leave I'm going to see them."
"Hey Chole, who's your friend?"
"Blake this is Jess. She's one of my closest friends."
"Hello," Jess waved.
"Hello to you too gorgeous," Blake winked. Jess giggled while Chole rolled her eyes and went back to cleaning her rifle. It seemed like they're in their own little bubble unbothered by the activity around them. Chole was finishing up with her rifle and noticed someone standing in front of her. She looked up and found brown eyes looking back. She had brown hair tied in two pigtails and a red bandanna on her head.
Chole cocked her head slightly, "Can I help you."
"You were with the squad that helped Largo out, right?"
"Yes," she stood up and reached out with her hand, "Sergeant Chole Brooks, squad fifteen."
"Sergeant Alicia Melchiott, squad seven," she shook her hand. "I just wanted to thank you. From what we heard it was pretty bad."
"Don't mention it." She looked toward Blake who was still talking to Jess, well more like flirting. "Hey, lover boy!"
"I said don't- well hello there. What's your name darling." Jess glared and Alicia blushed ever so slightly.
"Blake, one of these days you're going to get slapped and I hope I'm there to watch."
"Come on Chole! You know I can charm the pants off anyone. I could probably get through your cold exterior."
"Try it and I'll slap you."
Blake backed off and whispered, "How did you become friends with her?" Jess growled but he didn't hear it.
"Blake."
"Gotta go!" He booked it and disappeared around a corner.
"Anyway, what's with the bandanna?"
"Oh, it's part of my baker outfit."
"A baker? I'll have to try your bread sometime," Jess said as she walked over.
Alicia smiled, "Well, I'll have some ready when you get the chance."
They talked for a few minutes about various things. The guards at the camp suddenly snapped to attention and Chole looked over to see General Everhart walk into the tent. "Hey Jess, are we moving out?"
"No, why?"
"General Everhart just entered the tent."
"General Everhart? What's she doing here?"
"Who's General Everhart?"
"She's the commander of the first army which we're in."
"Alicia, you might want to get back to your squad."
"Yeah, I'll talk to you later!" She waved good-bye and walked off.
"She's nice." Chole nodded in agreement.
"You have any idea what the General wants?"
"If I had to guess it has to do with taking the bridge."
Newman and Jackson are making their way to the captured Imperial camp. A private and found them talking to each other on the river bank and told them that General Everhart wanted to see them. Understandably nervous they headed to the camp right away. They passed by other soldiers carrying supplies and moved out of the way of a half-track as it rumbled by. A pair of tanks rumbled past with soldiers sitting on top of them as they entered the tent.
Lieutenant Rudy Lane was already there and she nodded to them. Everhart was at the end of the table looking over the map of Vasal. Jackson and Newman snapped to attention. "Ma'am, Lieutenant Bret Jackson reporting as ordered.
"Ma'am Lieutenant Jake Newman reporting as ordered."
"Newman, Jackson at ease. We have a plan to take the Great Vasal bridge and it is set to start in forty-eight hours."
"That is good to hear ma'am. What is the plan?"
"Squad seven is going to launch an attack on the Imperial camp on the other side of the bridge."
"A single squad? They won't be able to do much."
"Without tank support, yes, but Lieutenant Gunther has a plan to swim his tank across the river."
"Swim his tank across the river? How the hell will that work?"
"Don't look at me, I'm not an engineer."
"They would have to waterproof the tank and make sure that water didn't get into the engine. I would love to meet whoever can do that," Lane said with a glint in her eyes.
"Let us get back to the task at hand. When squad seven takes the camp the Imperials will be in chaos. I want your squads ready to move as soon as they take the camp."
"Understood ma'am, we will be ready."
"Good. Dismissed."
Two days later
"Come on, what's taking them so long?"
"They'll get it done, don't worry."
Gunther and his squad left fifteen minutes ago and squads eighteen, twelve, and fifteen are on stand by ready to move. They've gotten some looks from the other soldiers with all of them standing around the half-tracks or sitting on top of their tanks but they've been ignored for the most part. Some soldiers from the Vasal defense battalion, as well as from the Militia, were confused. As far as they knew the Militia were leading the attack and it wouldn't start for another couple of hours. So why was the First mechanized company standing by to assault? The reason for their confusion, Everhart had convinced York and Varrot to not inform general Damon of the plan.
York and Varrot were rightfully confused and nervous, "Why do you not want us to inform General Damon of our plan?"
"General Damon is a prideful man. If we told him about the plan he would see it has an insult to that pride. He would deny our plan and continue with his own. He would send hundreds of men and women to their deaths just because of his pride.
"You realize if this goes wrong we all will be court-martialed."
"No, you will be court-martialed Varrot, York and I will be fine."
"...What!?"
"Indeed. This is a Militia operation without official authorization. If the plan fails the blame will fall on you and squad seven. If it succeeds and Damon tries to court-martial you Colonel York and I will support you. With the operation succeeding and the Imperials driven out of Vasal along with our support Damon wouldn't dare take you to a military court."
"But, your troops are standing by to take the bridge!"
"So? I haven't signed off on anything official. My troops were simply at the right place at the right time. Don't take it personal Varrot. When you've been involved with politics as long as I have you learn to cover yourself."
"You sure we can trust them to get the job done Lieutenant, they're just Militia."
"I'm sure. Captain Varrot was certain that squad seven could get the job done. Gunther figured out how to swim a tank across the river for this operation, I'm inclined to agree with her."
"Seriously, how the hell did he do that?"
Jackson didn't answer, instead, he kept his eyes glued to the Imperial camp waiting for the signal. Then an explosion echoes through the air! Through his binoculars, Jackson can see a tank turret explode hundreds of meters into the air! A chain reaction kicks off and the explosions reverberate through the air! Soldiers drop equipment and stop what they're doing as they stare at the rising fireballs in shock.
"What the hell is happening!?"
"Is the attack starting!?
"Why weren't we told!?"
"Damn! It looks like July fifteenth!"
Through all the chaos a single flare rose up into the sky where it exploded in a brilliant flash. "That's the signal. Mount up people! We're moving out!"
As they rolled across the bridge the other squads just looked on, confused about the sudden events. "This is an attack! Why the fuck weren't we told!?"
"Who cares! We have a chance to drive the imperials out of Vasal! Come on!"
"FOR GALLIA!"
Squad fifteen rolled across the bridge and assisted in driving the Imperials away from the bridge. With the rest of the company crossing and squads from the Vasal Defense Battalion right behind them, they moved to drive the Imperials out of Vasal. Within the hour the Gallian army and Militia secured the East bank of Vasal with no casualties. Randgriz is now safe from the Imperials.