Squad fifteen's tank arrived at their ambush position where members of Cain's squad that joined them are still waiting. "Chase, give the tank a look over; I want to make sure we are still combat-capable."

"Roger that."

"Everyone out of the tank, we might be here for a while."

He pushed the hatch open and dismounted. Squad eighteen's tank rolled to a stop behind them and Lane climbed out of the turret and stood on it.

"How's it looking Lane?"

"Could be a hell of a lot better. My driver tells me the tank needs immediate repairs so it looks like my tank won't be joining the next battle."

"Damn, sorry to hear that."

She waved him off, "It happens I'm just glad the transmission caught the shrapnel," she jumped off the turret. "What about your tank?"

"Chance is giving it a quick look over but it looks fine to me."

The man himself walked around the back of the tank and headed toward them, "She's good to go sir."

"Excellent, we're already down one tank I don't want to be down two."

"Lieutenant Jackson."

"Lieutenant Cain, your squad members are over there, and thanks for the assist back there."

"You helped us out we helped you out that simple. Hopefully we'll meet again Lieutenant Jackson," he gave a respectful nod and walked away.

"Jackson."

"Brooks, everyone accounted for?"

"Yes sir, we lost four in the engagements."

He nodded and pulled out a cigarette, "Smoke?"

"I'll pass. My life expectancy is short enough as it is."

He nodded and lit up his cigarette. "So Jackson, any idea why we're not perusing the Imps?"

"Hell if I know Lane. All I know is that we have orders to wait for the main army to catch up."

"The Imperials are going to be dug in by the time the army catches up."

Jackson exhaled the smoke, "Nothing we can do about that expect break their defense again and send them running."

Lane sighed and cupped her chin in thought. A minute later her eyes lit up, "Lane, you have that look in your eye."

"Our orders are to hold here, correct?"

"Yes..."

"The orders didn't say anything about sending a scout team ahead," she said with a smile.

"...No, they didn't. Brooks, get a team together. You're going on a joint op with squad eighteen."

"On it."

A few minutes later the scouting party was loading up in one of the half-tracks. The scout team consisted of four members from both squads. From squad fifteen there is Sergeant Brooks, Private Moss, Corporal Sara, and Lance Corporal Thomson. From squad eighteen there is Sergeant Grant, Corporal York, Corporal Sharp, and Private Richard.

The half-track pulls away and rumbles down the dirt road. The terrain all around them is rolling hills as far as the eye can see, they're consistently on the lookout for Imperial stragglers. The half-track stopped just on the other side of a hill and Richard jumped out. She crawled to the top of the hill and examined the terrain with her sniper rifle. A few minutes later she crawled down the hill back to the half-track and climbed in.

"Clear."

"Alright, let's keep moving."

"Understood."

The half-track rumbled forward and crested the hill. "Where do you think the Imperials would have fallen back to?"

"No idea."

"There are plenty of hills and ridgelines they could fortify but according to the map, there are two hills fairly close to each other that are tall enough to overlook the entire area. I guarantee that is where they have a second defensive line."

"How far are we from those hills?"

"Two kilometers. With the speed the army is going they will have plenty of time to fortify their positions."

"All the more reason why our company should be sent in ahead of the army not marching with them."

"The company wouldn't be able to do it alone we would need reinforcements from the army, reinforcements I don't think they are going to give."

The half-track suddenly stopped throwing the occupants forward. It backed up and took cover behind a 'hill' that was just tall enough to hide it from view.

"What the hell man!?"

"Sorry, but I caught a glimpse of Imperials on the other side of the hill, hopefully, they didn't see us."

"Looks like we caught up to the retreating Imperials."

"Or, they're just stragglers."

"Dismount, we're not going to find out anything here."

The team dismounted and split into two groups to hit the Imperials from their flanks. Richard set up on top of one of the many hills to provide sniper fire. The two teams quickly and quietly moved into flanking positions using the hills to cover their advance. Brooks slowly climbed to the top of the hill and raised her head up just enough to see over it.

Two Imperials are working on a truck that has smoke rising from its engine. Two more Imperials are guarding the back of the truck and another two are standing guard at the front of the truck. She saw Grant poke his head out and she singled to him that there are six Imperials and pointed out their locations. He nodded and ducked back behind the hill.

She motioned for her team to move up and they crawled into firing positions. "Sara, Thomson take the two at the front."

"Roger."

"Moss, we'll take the two working on the engine."

"Copy."

"Richard and someone from Grant's team will take the two at the front. On three."

"One..."

"Two..."

"Three!"

Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang! Ratta, Ratta, Ratta!

"Contacts eliminated, secure the truck. Sara, Thomson stay here and cover us."

"Copy."

They cautiously approached the truck; the tent flap suddenly opened and a shock trooper aimed at them! A shot rang out and he fell out of the truck with a bullet wound to the head. Brooks gave a quick salute to Richard and banged on the side of the truck.

"Drop your guns and come out with your hands up!"

She heard someone and moving and then, "Alright, I'm coming out!"

A single Imperial soldier poked his head out with his hands raised. Moss grabbed him by his arm and pulled him out of the truck. He landed with a grunt of pain and Moss tied his hands.

"Fuckin Gallian-"

Moss punched him in the back of his head, "Shut up."

Brooks checked the back of the truck to confirm it was empty. She jumped down and kneeled beside their captive.

"Now we can do this the easy way or the hard way. Where are the Imperials regrouping at?"

He spat at her, "Gallian bitch!"

Brooks rolled her eyes, "Somehow I'm not surprised."

"What do we have Brooks?"

"An Imperial captive who's not playing ball."

"Really now?" Grant looked over the Imperial and sighed, "He's just a grunt he won't have any useful intel for us."

"Damn. Well what do we do with him," Moss asked.

"We'll take him back to our lines, and Moss, you just volunteered."

He looked at Brooks in shock and waited for her to laugh or give some indication this was a joke. When she didn't give any he sighed in resignation.

"Yes ma'am."

The sound of an engine drew their attention to the half-track as it pulled up. Grant walked up to the driver side door and pulled himself up, "What are you waiting for?"

The driver looked at him funny, "You need to move that truck out of the way first."

Grant just looked at him, "You're in a half-track that easily weighs more than that truck and has a more powerful engine. Just push it out of the damn way."

The driver didn't look happy but conceded to Grant's logic and pushed the truck off the road. He jumped off the half-track, "Mount up!"

The now seven-man team mounted up and moved out.

"Seriously this is a military vehicle and he's worried about scratching the paint."

Brooks shook her head and smiled, "I don't know what to tell you Grant. Maybe he was worried the army would dock it from his pay."

Grant chuckled, "Maybe."

They rode in relative silence for the next couple of minutes. Every time the half-track came to the crest of a hill it stopped and Richard jumped out to scout for Imperials. They repeated this five times until... "Imperials three hundred meters ahead."

The scout team dismounted and set themselves up on the hills around them while the half-track backed further down the hill. Grant crawled up beside her and pulled out his binoculars. He could see engineers planting mines, setting up barbed wire, and placing tank traps. A little further back he saw Imperials digging trenches, setting up sandbags, and digging out positions for machine guns or anti-tank guns. They have chosen their defensive position well because there is eighty meters of open ground between the two positions. Without smoke or supporting fire to keep the Imperials pinned anyone advancing on their position would be cut down.

"Damn, it looks like their trying to recreate the battlefields of EW1."

"Yeah, but their defenses aren't ready yet. If we can attack quickly enough we can catch them out of position."

Grant grabbed his radio, "Lieutenant Lane, do you copy, over."

"Loud and clear Grant, over."

"We have eyes on the Imperial defensive positions. They are setting up barbed wire, mines, digging trenches, and setting up positions for machine and anti-tank guns. There is eighty meters of open ground between our position and theirs but they haven't finished setting up the defensives. If we attack them now they will be out of position and we can avoid heavy losses over."

"I'll relay the information to Colonel Adams. Get back to the squad ASAP out."

"We're done here, mount up."

Back with Lane she ended the transmission with Grant and contacted Colonel Adams.

"Colonel Adams, message over."

"Send, over."

"Scouting team reports enemy is building defensive works at hill 192. They report the defenses have not been finished and we will have an advantage if we attack soon, over."

"Understood. I will inform the generals, out."

A/N

Sorry for the month-long wait but I'm focusing on Storm in the Pacific as it's close to being finished. Once it's finished Storm over Gallia will be updated more regularly.

Stay safe out there, Echo08 signing off.