"Take cover!"
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!
"Come on! They're breaking!"
Bang, Bang, Bang!
Ratta, Ratta, Ratta!
Lieutenant Leonard Cain dived into cover and tried to contact his superior officer. His tank was destroyed during the initial Imperial push. Despite this loss, his squad managed to hold off the Imperials long off for squads thirty-six and thirty-nine to reinforce them and counter-attack.
"Sir! This is Lieutenant Cain! We're pushing the Imperials back but if we want to exploit this we need reinforcements!"
"Understood. Colonel Adams has dispatched squads fifteen and eighteen to assist in the breakthrough."
"Copy that! Are we holding down the line!?"
"Barely. You need to move fast Lieutenant."
"Won't let you down sir! We got reinforcements inbound! Keep the pressure on!"
Ratta, Ratta, Ratta, Ratta, Ratta!
Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang!
"Imperial tank incoming!"
Squad thirty-six's tank moved to engage. Its shell hit the light tank's gun mantlet and it fell back only for a 'fatherland' tank to replace it. It fired and the shell penetrated the Gallian tank's frontal armor killing the crew. The tank rolled forward covering Imperial soldiers as they advanced. A small group of Gallian soldiers flanked around the tank and fired a lance.
Foosh!
It skimmed off the tank's turret. It immediately started to fall back and aimed its mortar at their cover. They scattered and avoided the mortar but they were out in the open and four of them are killed while two mange to find cover.
"We have to destroy that tank! You two! Flank around its right side! We'll provide covering fire!"
"Sir!"
"COVERING FIRE!"
Ratta, Ratta, Ratta, Ratta, Ratta, Ratta!
Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang!
Ratta, Ratta, Ratta!
Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang!
The two-man flanking team worked their way around to the side of the Imperial tank.
"Take the shot man!"
"I don't know it the lance will kill it though! If we push a little further I will have a clear shot at its radiator!"
"If we push up any further we won't have cover from the squad! We'll be sitting ducks if we're spotted!"
"Give me covering fire then! I'll get into position and take that tank out!"
"You're a crazy fucker you know that?"
"It came with the job description. You ready?"
"Ready when you are."
"Alright, here I go!"
He stood up and rushed across open ground. Two Imperial scouts spotted him but were killed before they could do anything. He dived into a shell hole and took aim.
Ratta, Ratta, Ratta, Ratta!
Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang!
The scout killed the Imperial shock trooper but not before he hit the lancer. He went down and didn't get back up.
"Dammit!" He looked at his immediate surroundings and took a deep breath, "Here I go!"
He sprinted across open ground and dived into the same shell hole. He checked the lancer's pulse. "Goddammit!" He picked up the lance and aimed it at the tank.
Foosh!
The lance went high and he ducked back into cover. He reloaded the lance and peaked out across the battlefield. The Imperials hadn't noticed the failed attack so he took aim again.
...
...
...
Foosh... BOOM!
The lance slammed into the radiator and blew the tank's engine apart. The crew dismounted and the Imperials started to fall back. Squad thirty-nine's tank rolled over the hill and engaged.
BOOM! Ratta, Ratta, Ratta, Ratta, Ratta!
"We got them on the run!"
"ADVANCE!"
The three squads moved forward forcing the Imps further back. Lieutenant Cain leads the advance and jumps into the same shell hole that the scout was in.
"Good work taking out that tank. You have his dog tags?"
"Yes sir."
"Keep'em. Let's drive these Imps back."
"Sir!"
BOOM!
"HEAVY TANK!"
"GET DOWN!"
"We lost our armor!"
"Our lances can't penetrate that frontal armor! We have to flank it!"
"We can't! It's backed up by a light tank and infantry!"
Bang, Bang, Bang!
Ratta, Ratta, Ratta!
"Hold your ground! Reinforcements are on the way!"
"They better get here soon!"
BOOM! Ratta, Ratta, Ratta, Ratta!
Bang, Bang, Bang!
Ratta, Ratta, Ratta, Ratta!
BOOM!
A shell slammed into the hull-mounted cannon and knocked it out. It started to reverse when another shell slammed into its frontal armor. It stopped and the hatch on the turret opened. Smoke slowly rose up and the gunner and loader for the turret dismounted. The light tank started to back off but a shell punched through its frontal armor.
"It's about time they showed up!"
Behind the tanks eight half-tracks rolled to a halt. Their passengers dismounted and moved up to support the tanks. The Imps quickly began to fall back.
"We got them on the run!"
"Don't pursue! Hold your positions!"
Cain made his way over to the lead tank, "Thanks for the assist. I'm Lieutenant Cain."
"Lieutenant Jackson. Are the squads here ready to move?"
"Yes but, who will hold our position?"
"There are five more squads behind us. One of them will hold this position while the rest continue to advance," he nodded toward three trucks that just arrived, "Those three trucks can carry eighteen soldiers in total."
Cain nodded and yelled for the other two Lieutenants to join him, "We'll give you the best we have."
"Appreciate it Lieutenant. We need to move fast if we want to exploit this."
"What's the plan?"
"We're going hit the Imps center force in the flank. That will force them to halt their attack and allow our center forces to reform and launch a counter-attack. This will force the Imperial forces attacking our right flank to fall back unless they want to be encircled."
"Sounds like a plan I can get behind."
He turned to the Lieutenants, "Alright, each squad has a truck. Find six of your best and send them with Lieutenant Jackson."
"Sir!"
"Sergeant Rogers! Get over here!"
"What do you need sir?"
"Get a team of five from our squad and load up in that truck. Make sure they're the best."
"Understood."
It didn't take long for the teams to be formed. In that short amount of time more reinforcements had arrived. One squad stayed behind to hold the position while the other four marched on the Imperial center force. Cain's squad, along with squads 36, and 39, advanced with them. Two Gallian light tanks went ahead of the force to scout. They would report back as soon as they spotted the Imperials.
"Driver, halt!"
"What do you see sir?"
"Imperials. Looks like reinforcements heading for the front. We hit them now, it'll cause chaos. Lieutenant Jackson, I have eyes on an Imperial reinforcement column heading to the front."
"Copy that. Hold your position, we'll be there soon."
"Better hurry lieutenant."
He continued to watch the column pass by. There are multiple light and medium tanks in the column along with trucks, half-tracks, and armored cars. At the end of the column, he saw trucks towing howitzers and anti-tank guns.
"Lieutenant, there are a large amount of Imperials in the column. If we let them reorganize after the initial attack they may prevent us from encircling the Imperial center force."
"Understood, we're almost there."
He looked behind him and saw the dust being kicked up by the vehicles. He put away his binoculars and closed the hatch.
"Ready?"
"Ready to roll."
"Gun loaded sir, ready to fire."
"Lion's paw, you ready?"
"Just waiting for you."
"Target the medium tanks first. They pose the greatest threat."
"Roger that."
"Fire!"
BOOM, BOOM!
Armor-piercing shells slammed into the flanks of two medium tanks. They stopped immediately but didn't return fire. They turned their attention on the lighter vehicles and knocked multiple trucks and half-tracks out with MG fire and 75 mm shells. The light vehicles turned hard left and used a dip in the terrain for cover. This allowed the infantry to dismount relatively safely.
The fireflies rolled up and added their firepower to the mix quickly followed by the infantry.
BOOM! Ratta, Ratta, Ratta, Ratta, BOOM!
Bang, Bang, Bang!
Ratta, Ratta, Ratta!
Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang!
"We have their attention now!"
"Heads up! Imperials further up the column have turned back! They're heading our way!"
"We'll give them a warm welcome!"
Ratta, Ratta, Ratta!
Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang!
Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!
"Imperials on our left! They have an armored car!"
"Engaging!"
The Gallian tank rotated its turret and fired. The shell tore clean through the armored car and set it on fire. It tuned, advanced on the Imperials, and fired its mortar. The explosion killed three Imperials and forced the rest to scatter.
"Grant, Moss! You're with me!"
"Yes ma'am!"
"You four are with us as well!"
"Ma'am!"
With the tank providing cover fire they closed in on the Imperials. They moved up to the armored car and engaged the Imps who were retreating. A light tank pinned them down allowing the Imperial soldiers to get into cover. The Gallian tank rolled forward and fired. A gazer of fire shot out of the light tank's hatch quickly followed by an explosion that destroyed the tank. There was another light tank and its shell slammed into the Gallian tank's gun mantlet. It backed off and the Imperial tank advanced.
It creased the hill and its turret blew clean off. Two scouts pushed up to it and started firing down on the Imperials. Suddenly, the Gallian tank with them exploded in a fireball! Brooks looked left and saw an Imperial squadron advancing with two tanks.
"Jackson! Imperials are behind us!"
"What!?"
BOOM!
The second Gallian tank was destroyed when a tank shell slammed into its radiator.
"Dammit! Squad fifteen turn around and engage the Imperials at our six! Everyone else hold this hilltop!"
"We're with you Jackson!"
"Lane, I need you to stay here and provide support!"
"Like hell! I'm not just going to sit here and provide them an easy target! We can hold this hilltop without tank support!"
"...Alright." With that settled squad fifteen and both fireflies turned around to intercept the Imperials flanking them.
"I can't hit anything at this range!"
"Get your smoke grenades ready! We're advancing to that hilltop!"
"Copy that!"
"...Now!"
Four grenades are tossed over the wrecked armored car. They explode and create a cloud of white smoke blinding the Imperials. The smoke conceals them as they cross open ground and make their way up a hillside. They reach the top of the hill and find that the Imps are already engaging squad fifteen.
Ratta, Ratta, Ratta!
Bang, Bang, Bang!
Bang, Bang, Bang!
BOOM! Ratta, Ratta, Ratta, Ratta! BOOM!
Both fireflies were engaging two Imperial tanks. One was a standard medium tank but the second tank was a model they didn't recognize. Its capabilities are unknown so the fireflies are making sure to stay out of its line of fire and if they do fire at it they quickly duck behind the hills to avoid being hit. The medium tank is hiding behind the other tank and would fire at the fireflies when they rolled out to fire.
"We have to get around those tanks!"
"Easier said than done!"
Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang!
"If we can get up to where they are we can hit the tanks in the side or rear!"
"Alright! You three are with me!"
"Sir!"
The four of them sprinted in short bursts. They moved from cover to cover before they arrived at the base of the hill. They started up the hill when two Imperials appeared on their right.
"IMPS!"
Ratta, Ratta, Ratta, Ratta!
Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang!
Ratta, Ratta, Ratta!
Both Imperials were killed. The shock trooper checked for a pulse on his fellow shock trooper but he was dead. He sighed and closed his eyes.
"Lancer, get up there and do what you do best." He nodded and continued up the hill.
"Scout you're with me. We need to make sure the Imps can't flank us like those two tried."
"Sir."
They moved up but the scout stopped and crouched down. "What are you doing? We have to move."
"Check out his uniform. It doesn't match the regular Imperial army."
Indeed. Instead of the normal Imperial grays and browns, his uniform was black with various gold inlays. He didn't have a helmet but a skull-like mask with a black hood.
"Who are these guys?"
"No idea, but they're not standard Imperial army. Come on, we can worry about that later."
Ratta, Ratta, Ratta!
Bang, Bang, Bang!
BOOM!
"What's our damage!?"
"Transmission is acting up ma'am!"
She nodded, "Jackson, our transmission has taken a hit. We're pulling back."
"Understood. Damn, whoever these guys are they're good."
"Lieutenant! That heavy tank is advancing! Our lances can't penetrate its frontal armor!"
"Fall back and lead it to us! We can put a shell through its side armor!"
"Roger that! Fighting retreat!"
Ratta, Ratta, Ratta, Ratta, Ratta!
Bang, Bang, Bang!
Ratta, Ratta, Ratta, Ratta!
Foosh!
"Damn! I didn't-" Ratta, Ratta!
"AH!"
A scout rushed to his side. "I got ya," he dragged him into cover and used his ragnaid. "I need a medic over here!"
Ratta, Ratta, Ratta, Ratta! BOOM! Ratta, Ratta!
Foosh! BOOM!
The medium tank ground to a halt and the crew dismounted. They were killed as they exited the tank. The heavy tank started to back off but the infantry kept up the assault. A shell slammed into the back of the tank's turret but failed to penetrate.
"Lieutenant Jackson, reinforcements have arrived."
"Perfect timing!"
"Lieutenant! I can see Imperials falling back across a ridgeline! The column is falling back to them as well!"
"You are cleared to pursue!"
"Understood!"
"Sir! Imperial forces to our front are falling back!"
"We have the advantage now. Push forward!"
Jackson's firefly rolled out from behind cover and fired. The HE shell kicked up a huge amount of dirt and sent three Imperials flying backward. Squad fifteen advanced with their tank and any Imperials caught in the open were swiftly killed. Off to their left flank, seven Gallian squads advanced with support from two tanks putting more pressure on the Imperial squadron in front of them. As they pushed them back two medium tanks and a platoon of Imperial soldiers coved the retreating Imperial squadron forcing squad fifteen to break off their pursuit. The Gallian squads to their left flank ran into the same difficulties. The Imperials bought time for the other squadron to escape and then they began falling back.
"Lieutenant Jackson, do you copy?"
"Loud and clear sir."
"The Imperials are falling back across the line and we are launching a counter-attack. I want you to hold position and let the First army catch up."
"Understood Colonel. Squad fifteen we are regrouping with squad eighteen and waiting on the first army."
"Understood. We might not be joining you on this push Jackson."
"Copy that. How's your transmission looking?"
"It's... iffy at the moment. See you back at the squad."
Gallian Light tank
Weight: 11.2 tons
Length: 4.97m
Height: 2.55m
Width: 2.39m
Top speed: 50km/h
Arms: 75mm cannon, 7.92mm coaxial machine gun
These tanks are fast, mobile, and lightly armored but pack a punch with their short barreled 75mm cannon.
Built in response to the outbreak EW1 Theimer and other Gallian engineers recognized the threat Imperial tanks posed and quickly developed these tanks. They were mass produced and served a critical role in Gallia's defense during EW1.
Theimer attempted to convince the Gallian military council of the necessity of a more offensive tank but to no avail.
Imperial Light tank
Weight: 24 tons
Length: 6.69m
Height: 3.24m
Width: 3.02m
Speed: 45km/h
Arms: 45mm cannon, 85mm mortar, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun
Developed during the later stages of EWI the light tank saw considerable use during EWII despite being outclassed by its Federation counterparts.
They used their speed and agility to make up for their lack of armor. The success of this tank led to the development of the 'Fatherland' medium tank.
A/N
All information regarding the Gallian and Imperial light tanks comes from the Valkyria Chronicles Wiki and the game.