For the last three days activity in the camp has constantly increased. Scouting teams have been dispatched in far greater numbers than before and there's a tension in the air now. NCOs like myself have been ordered to put any rumors down quickly and efficiently. Everyone knows something is in the works and the most likely answer is an offensive against the Imps.

Brooks placed her pencil in her book and closed it before putting it in her bag. She checked her watch; the time was eight AM.

"Ma'am?"

She opened her eyes, "Cox. What do you need?"

"N-nothing ma'am. I'm just... nervous."

Brooks nodded, "You're not the only one Cox. Even if nobody shows it, we're all a little nervous."

"Even you ma'am?"

"Sometimes."

"Ah. Nice to know I'm not the only one nervous."

"Don't worry about it Cox. Your squadmates will have your back."

He nodded, "I know they will. Thank you ma'am."

Cox walked off and she soon lost sight of him. She laid back on the bed and closed her eyes, determined to get more sleep.

Inside Squad Twenty's tent, there was a large amount of money on the line. Two of the strongest members of the squad were arm wrestling and a total of a thousand Ducats had been placed.

"So, you do you think is going to win?"

Phelps shrugged, "Don't know. I don't have money riding on this to I don't care."

"Hm, fair point."

Wade walked up and stood next to Phelps. "You haven't bet anything?"

"Nope. Have you?"

He smirked, "Two hundred Ducats on him."

"That confident huh."

"Yep."

"Hm, we'll see if that confidence is warranted."

"How long have they been going at it?"

"A minute and a half."

Both contestants were straining and their veins were visibly pulsing. Their faces were blood red and sweat had broken out on their foreheads. Neither of them were giving up and their arms had yet to move.

"How long do you think this will go on?"

"No idea."

"Should we stop them? I've seen people dislocate their bones doing this."

"What!? No we shouldn't stop them! If we do I won't get my winnings!"

"How in the hell would the winnings be dived out anyway?"

"Don't know. I'll worry about that when I win!" He walked over and joined the small group that had gathered around the two.

"This is a waste of time. I'm going to find something to do." Phelps heard him walk out of the tent. He looked behind him and debated leaving but decided to see who would win in the arm-wrestling match.

"Lieutenant Newman."

Newman turned slightly and dismissed the two soldiers. He turned around fully, "Yes private?"

"The Captain want's to see all of the squad leaders from the First Mechanized Company in the main tent."

"Thank you."

He headed to the Command tent. The guards saluted and he returned it before stepping inside. He headed straight to the back of the tent and opened the flap. Inside the room were the Captain and Lieutenant Lane. "Lieutenant Newman, glad you could join us."

"Captain, Lane."

"Newman. How has the desert been," she asked with a smile.

Newman sighed, "I much prefer the milder climates of Gallia."

"Basically you hate being here."

"I despise being here."

"You and me both Newman."

It was then that Lieutenant Jackson entered.

"Now, we're just missing- I'm here Lane."

Lieutenant Sharp entered just behind Jackson.

"I'm glad you came on such short notice. The plan for the attack on Imperial positions is finished. At ten hundred hours our forces will assault all four ruin sites the Imperials are at. Our scouts have reported no reinforcements have been sent to the ruins so it's likely the Imperials don't know we are here."

"Here's the finer details of the plan. Our company will assault these ruins. Militia Squad Seven will assault these ruins while squads 303 and 300 will assault the ruins here. Squad 287 and Squad 299 will assault the final ruin here. There are multiple smaller Imperial camps stationed around the ruins. These camps will be hit simultaneously by the other squads to prevent them from sending reinforcements to the Imperials at the ruins. Any questions?"

"Sir, do we know if the Imps have aeroplanes?"

"We do not. If you encounter one massed ground fire is our best counter. From the reports I've read, they're not very durable. Any more questions?"

"...Get your squads ready to move out. Dismissed."

The base is a hive of activity as squads scramble to make their final preparations. Brooks, Jess, and Justin jogged toward the motor pool. They turned the corner just as a tank rolled into view. It rumbled toward the exit with five Half-tracks following behind. They entered the motor pool and spotted their squads mounting up.

"Good luck Chole!"

"You to Jess!"

"Sergeant! We just about left you behind!"

"You disappointed Blake!?"

"Hell no ma'am! Climb in!"

Blake helped Brooks and Justin into the Half-track. As soon as they sat down it started moving. Squad Eighteen, Twelve, and Twenty were right behind them. They left the base and entered the desert.

"How long will it take us to reach the ruins?"

"Around three hours."

"Three hours!? Fuck me."

"Suck it up Private. If you can get some sleep."

"Not sure how I can get some sleep. This isn't the smoothest of rides."

The driver laughed, "Hah! If you wanted a smooth ride you shouldn't have joined the army!"

"I was drafted! Didn't have much of a choice."

He shrugged but didn't comment. Beside him, York leaned his head back and closed his eyes. Someone sighed, "This is going to be a long ride."

A rough bump jolted Brooks from her half-asleep state. She silently cursed and rubbed her eyes. She let out a long yawn and leaned back. "Fuck me," she groaned.

"Is that an invitation Brooks?"

Blake was smiling at her and she flipped him off. "You're not my type Blake. I prefer men with more brains than brawn."

Blake gasped and placed a hand in his chest. "That hurt Brooks."

She rolled her eyes, "You'd make a terrible actor."

"Damn. I thought I did pretty good."

"No. No, it was terrible."

"Shut it Justin. Nobody asked you."

"Nobody asked you for that terrible acting."

"As anyone told you that you argue like an old married couple?"

"No. And I really didn't need to hear that."

York groaned and opened his eyes. "Can you guys shut up? I'm trying to sleep."

Someone kicked his leg, "We're almost at the ruins. Stay awake York."

He groaned, "I feel like shit. How does sleeping make you more tired?"

"Must have been a light sleep."

York yawned, "Damn. I could have stayed awake for three hours and I wouldn't have been as tired."

"Heads up," the gunner called out, "Steep hills on either side of the Path. Perfect for an ambush."

"Alright people you head the man. Time to get serious. Scan the hills. You see anything suspicious, shoot first ask questions later."

"Ma'am."

"Understood."

"Got it."

Brooks rested her rifle against the meatal wall and scanned the dunes. Their squad's tank had already entered the path with the first half-track was just entering now.

Her radio crackled. "Everyone, keep your eyes open."

She drew up her binoculars and started scanning. Their half-track was bathed in shadow as the dunes blocked the sun. She scanned the top of the dunes and moved down. By now, three-fourths of their convoy was in the cut. Seeing nothing off their left, Brooks scanned more in front of their half-track.

"This is nerve-racking," someone muttered.

Brooks agreed but didn't say anything. She scanned the top of the dunes again and saw something for a split second. She focused, trying to spot it again but, whatever it was, she couldn't find it.

"Lieutenant, something might be off your ten o'clock. Only saw it for a second."

"Understood Sergeant."

She raised her binoculars and searched for it again. Then, she saw it. The glint of a scope. She dropped her binoculars and raised her rifle!

BANG!

Their gunner's head jerked back with a spray of blood!

Bang bang bang bang bang!

"FUCK!"

"Sniper!"

"Where!"

"On top of that dune!"

A hail of gunfire impacted where Brooks pointed! Their company franticly scanned for targets as the M1PC in front opened up with its MG! A shock trooper stood up to get a better shot and was hit multiple times falling back into the compartment, dead.

"Imperials on our left side! On top of the dunes!"

"Private! Get on that gun!"

"Ma'am!"

He quickly moved to the gun and moved his dead comrade out of the way. He took the gun, cocked it, and opened fire! The rounds kicked up sand and pinned the Imperials. A lance flew from one of the M1PCs in front and slammed into the sand!

Two explosions echoed off the dunes as two of the four Fireflies fired their main guns before unleashing their MGs! More Imperials seemed to sprint out of the dunes themselves and man defensive positions. Dozens of bullets pinged off the M1PC's armor.

"They're coming out of the dunes!"

"They must have been waiting for us!"

"No! they weren't waiting for us! They were just guarding the pass!"

Another lance flew from the M1PC in front of them! It slammed into a defensive position and blew the sandbags away! Squad Eighteen's tank fired again blasting apart a fox hole!

"Keep firing!"

Blake fired his lance but it went high only showering the Imps in sand. Beside him, Justin fired pinning down two Imperial scouts.

"Blake! Two Imps scouts! There!"

"On it!"

He readied his lance and fired! It blasted the two scouts out of cover and Justin shot their bodies to make sure they were dead. He ducked down to reload and peaked back over only for a bullet to skim off his helmet knocking him down! York saw him go down, "Justin!?"

"Fuck me. That was too close." He caught his breath for a second before grabbing his SMG and firing. A lane flew from the top of the dunes and slammed into the ground! The gunner scanned the dunes and spotted the lancer. When he stood up to fire again he lit him up. His body jerked and he fell behind the dune.

"See any more!?"

"No! I think we're clear!"

"More Imperials at our twelve!"

"Ya spoke too soon!"

Brooks looked ahead and saw her Squad's tank put a shell into a sandstone wall. Chunks of rock and sand rained down on the tank! Another shell slammed into the wall and set off something as an explosion blew out a chunk of the wall!

The gunfire ceased. It was a little jarring going from full combat to nothing. The only sound came from their heavy breathing and their vehicles. They used the sudden break to catch their breath. Brooks checked her ammo and saw she only had one round left; she reloaded and continued to scan the dunes. Justin found his helmet and ran his finger over the mark where the bullet hit. He silently thanked whoever was watching over him and put it on.

BOOM!

"The hell was that!?"

"Imperials to our eleven! They're dug in!"

The M1PCs opened up with their MGs killing any Imp unlucky enough to be in their sights. The hills had slowly risen higher the further they went. Now, sheer cliffs flanked both sides of the convoy. Their tank couldn't elevate its gun high enough to assist. Brooks saw fifteen Imps at the top of the cliff. Twelve were just lying prone while the other three were behind cover. She raised her rifle and fired at a scout killing him with a shot to the head. On her right, a shock trooper fired somewhat wildly as he didn't have a good angle.

The tanks behind them fired upon the Imperial position. Brooks saw their bodies fly off the cliff. Their half-track rounded the corner, "Imperials are dug in at our eleven, twelve, and one!"

"We'll have to dig'em out!"

The three M1PC's in front of them had pulled off the road and dismounted their troops. Their driver pulled off to the right of the road.

"Dismount! Move move move!"

They jumped out of the M1PC while their gunner laid down covering fire. There was little cover between them and the Imperials.

"Ma'am! There no cover between us and the Imps!"

"Then we'll make our own cover! Driver! Advance slow!"

He nodded and the M1PC slowly advanced on the Imps. The rest of their convoy started to arrive. Squad eighteen's tank pushed forward with two M1PCs in support. A lance slammed into the engine of a half-track causing it to burst into flames! A quick burst of gunfire killed the gunner. Richard brought her rifle up and fired. The bullet found its mark and the Imp disappeared from her view. The lancer stood for another shot but Richard killed him as well

A shell bounced off Lieutenant Jackson's tank!

"Where did that come from!?"

"AT gun at our two o'clock!"

The tank rocked and shuttered as another shell bounced!

"I see it!"

"On the way!"

BOOM!

"AT gun destroyed!"

"Lieutenant Lane is off our left sir."

"Copy."

Through the viewports, he saw Sergeant Brooks leading a team forward. They sprinted out from behind their half-track and occupied the Imperial's defensive positions. The Imperials started to fall back into the ruins.

"Tanks and half-tracks hold. Infantry, advance into the ruins and secure the Imperial camps. We'll provide fire support."

"Understood." Jessica turned to her squad, "Let's move."

They used the ruins as cover and each squad split up into four fireteams. Their snipers had tried to position themselves so they had good coverage of the whole area. Jess crouched down behind a stone wall, "See anything?"

"Negative ma'am."

"Fuck. They're waiting for us."

She ordered her team forward and pushed up to another stone wall with a scout. He looked through his binoculars, "I don't see anything ma'am. Maybe they're further in."

"Maybe... Snipers, do you see anything?"

"We see the flag of an Imperial camp. Other than that, nothing."

"Copy. Fuck. I know we're walking right into an ambush."

The scout looked at her, "Then what's the plan?"

"We spring the ambush."

She moved forward and the scout followed. They jumped into a shallow trench that cut through the ruins. They could see more of these... they weren't trenches that was for damn sure."

"What the hell caused this?"

"No idea. It's too smooth to be natural."

The scout drew up his binoculars. "I still don't see anything ma'am."

Jess looked to her left and saw other fireteams taking up positions in the trench. To her right, two more fire teams were in the trench. She looked behind her and saw their tanks waiting while two M1PCs were using what might have been roads at one point to move up.

BOOM!

She and the scout instinctively ducked when a cannon fired. That instinct saved their lives as a stream of tracers ripped over their heads!

"We sprang the ambush ma'am!"

"Good! Now all we have to do is defeat it!"

He peaked only to duck as a burst of tracers zipped over his head. "We need to take out that MG! It has a clear view of the entire trench!"

"Lieutenant Newman! Imps have set up an MG that's holding our advance! Can you take care of it!?"

"On it."

Five seconds later, Jess heard the shell fly overhead! It slammed into the MG and brought the top half of the ruin down!

"Damn! You brought the building down Lieutenant!"

Behind them, an M1PC rolled out from behind a building and laid down fire. The gunner walked his fire to assist one fireteam to another. Another shell screamed in and blew open one of the ruins! The building toppled toward the trench and basically fell apart when it landed. One fireteam pushed up to debris and engaged.

"Ma'am!"

Sherman, Lewis, and the other four members of her fire team jumped into the trench.

"Where the hell have you been!?"

"Pinned by that MG!"

The lancer in their fire team took aim and fired. The lance slammed into a ruined wall and it exploded inward!

"Sherman! Lewis! Provide cover fire!"

"Ma'am!"

"Everyone else with me!"

Her fireteam climbed out and sprinted to the next ruins. Brooks slammed her shoulder against the wall and blindly fired around the corner. She heard someone scream and her gun clicked.

Sherman and Lewis sprinted up and grabbed cover. Lewis stood up and fired killing one Imperial and pining two down. He ducked to reload and Sherman stood up catching two Imperials off guard and killing one while wounding the other.

"Oh shit!"

Sherman ducked as a lance flew overhead!

"That was too close!"

"Did you see where it came from!?"

"No! I was a little busy not getting hit in the face with a lance!"

A second lance slammed into a ruin sending debris flying! They pressed themselves against the wall and covered their heads as bits of stone rained down! Lewis turned to a scout behind him. "Find that Lancer!"

"On it!"

Sherman popped up and fired forcing an Imp to take cover. He walked his fire from left to right until his gun clicked. Lewis popped up and fired killing a shock trooper. He ducked as bullets slammed into the stone around him. A third lance slammed into the stone wall next to them blowing it inward and sending two of their squadmates flying backward!

"There! The lancer is in a three-story building! Most of its left side has collapsed!"

He dropped his binoculars and fired. Bang bang bang bang bang!

"Did you get him!?"

"I think so!"

"Better safe than sorry. Lancer! Hit that building!"

"On it. Time form some reconstruction!"

The lance flew true and slammed into the building causing the roof to collapse.

"Yeah! Remodel complete!"

"Great work!"

"Ah hell! Armored car!"

Said armored car stopped and opened up with is 20mm cannon and 7.62mm MG. A fireteam of Imperials was backing it up. Jess cussed as fist-sized holes were punched through the stone wall.

"Lieutenant! Armored car has us pinned!"

"Understood."

"Sir! We don't have a shot!"

"Take us around the right side of the ruins."

"Sir!"

"Jackson, Lane, Sharp armored car is pinning our squads down. We're moving to engage."

"Understood. Watch yourself Newman."

Newman unbuttoned and drew up his binoculars. He spotted an M1PC moving up to assist the fireteams. They swung around to the right of the ruins and he spotted a road that was just wide enough for their tank to fit in.

"Chase, take us down that road."

"Roger." He wheeled the tank to the left and Newman buttoned up.

"That's going to be a tight fit sir."

"She'll make it."

Chase slowed up heavily as they headed down the road. There was two possibly three centimeters of clearance between the tank and the stone buildings. Newman saw tracers through the viewports indicating they were approaching the fight. The road slowly widened allowing the turret to rotate a few degrees to the right. Chase moved the tank as far to the left as he could. He turned in as they rounded the corner.

"Gallian tank!"

"Get away from the car!"

BOOM!

With the signature flash, a shell ripped through the armored car and detonated its ammo! A gout of fire roared out of the commander's hatch quickly followed by an explosion that blew the turret off! The coaxial MG opened up killing three Imperials who weren't quick enough getting into cover. One of the Gallian fireteams pushed up to cover the tank.

"Imperials are using the buildings for cover."

"Maybe we can bring'em down. Gunner, HE shell, eleven o'clock."

"Away!"

The Shell blasted a hole into the building. The Imperials, recognizing what the tank was trying to do, vacated their cover around the building.

"Imperials are falling back! All fireteams advance!"

"Jackson, Lane, Sharp we're advancing."

"Understood. We're moving to the left side of the ruins."

"Roger."

Their fireteam had pushed up to the Imperial positions and are trading fire with unseen contacts.

"Chase, slowly move us forward."

"Sir."

The engine revved and the tank crept forward. "Hold here."

"Sir."

Newman squinted through the view slits. The tight nature of urban combat disappeared in front of them. It was largely open terrain with a few ruined walls and buildings spread out in front of them. The Imperial camp was situated at the top of a small hill and didn't appear to have any defensives around it. The Imperials had hastily built fighting positions in front of their camp.

"We have the Imperials on the back foot. Push forward!"

"Gunner put a round in that defensive position at our ten o'clock."

"...Away!"

"Good hit!"

Through the view slits Newman saw Jackson's, Lane's, and Sharp's roll into battle with three M1PCs backing them up. Jackson turned his tank to face the Imp positions and obliterated an Imp fighting position.

"Ah hell! Two Imperial mediums backing up a heavy!"

Newman's tank heaved backward throwing him back! His head slammed into the back of the turret causing his vision to go black. A second later, his vision came back and his head was pounding. He felt blood running down the back of his head but ignored it. The tank shuddered again and the gunner was thrown back.

"Chase! Get us into cover."

"Agh, on it!"

The loader took over the gunner's position and fired.

"Low."

Before they could fire again, Chase tucked them behind a building. The loader checked the gunner's pulse and shook his head.

"Chase, what's the damage?"

"I'm not sure sir."

"Can we still fight?"

"Yes."

"Alright."

He crouched down and grabbed the gunner's tags. Charlie Webb.

"Help me get him out."

"Sir."

"Newman's tank was hit!"

"Shit," Lane cussed. "Is it in cover?"

"Yes. It just went behind a building."

"Good. Put a shell into that heavy tank's turret!"

"Away!"

BOOM!

"Direct hit!"

"It's rotating to face us."

"Driver get us behind the stone wall at our eight o'clock."

"Roger."

The engine reeved and the tank jolted as it reversed. An explosion to their front showed the tank in sand and it shook a bit.

"Aim for its hull-mounted cannon."

"...Away!"

BOOM!

"Traverse three degrees right."

"Loaded!"

"Away!"

BOOM!

"Hit!"

A shell landed next to the tank rocking it to the side!

"That was too close!"

"Get us behind cover. We might not be third time lucky."

The tank turned and Lane's view was obscured by a stone wall, she unbuttoned. The wall was just low enough that she could see over it. The Imp heavy tank was slowly backing up but still engaging. One of the mediums was destroyed but Sharpe's tank was disabled. Blake smoke rose from the engine and she could see fire on the engine deck.

A shell slammed into the heavy tank's left side. Lane looked right and saw Newman's tank charge forward!

"Driver! Move us out," she called into the turret.

"Ma'am!"

The tank shook a little and moved forward. The turret swing left and fired! The shell slammed into the heavy tank's frontal armor and it stopped. Another shell hit next to its hull-mounted cannon and the tank detonated!

"Enemy armor destroyed!"

"This is Newman. Second enemy medium destroyed."

"Press forward! We have them on the run!"

Jackson's tank thundered blasting apart an Imperial position! Lane hunkered down as an MG opened up. "Gunner. MG at our nine as a fireteam pinned."

"Understood."

The turret wined as it traversed. "Target acquired. Firing!"

BOOM!

The shell obliterated the window where the MG was located.

"Excellent shot."

In front of them, Jackson's tank ground to a halt.

"We just lost our track. Lancer to our seven."

"Infantry just took care of him."

"Wish they did it a little sooner."

The fireteams pushed ahead of the tanks and the half-tracks that had moved forward to assist. As the tanks crested the hill the Gallian flag was being raised above the Imperial camp.

"All forces, we've taken the Imperial camp."

"Excellent work Sergeant I'll call it in. See if you can find documents as to what the Imps were looking for. Out."

Imperial 'Fatherland' Medium Tank

Length: 5.95m

Width: 3.35m

Height: 2.98m

Weight 38 tons

Top Speed: 38km/h

Arms: 76mm cannon, 85mm mortar, 9mm coaxial machine gun, 12.7mm turret mounted machine gun.

Designed in the mid twenties and entering mass production by mid 1929 the Medium tank was a vast improvement over the Light tanks used by the empire. Over 12,000 such tanks had been produced by 1935 and these tanks, nicknames Fatherland by Imperial soldiers, were the backbone of the Empire's tank force.

The designers struck a good balance of speed, firepower, and armor. It was easy to adapt and upgrade leading to multiple variants serving across all fronts of the Second European War.

In order to protect the Ragnite radiator, a heavy machine gun was placed in a turret facing rearward.

Imperial Heavy Tank

Length: 7.16m

Width: 3.72m

Height: 3.23m

Weight: 45 tons

Top Speed: 32km/h

Arms: 76mm cannon, 122mm mortar, two 7.62mm machine guns.

One of the most powerful tanks implored in the Second European War the Heavy Tank sacrificed speed for armor and firepower.

The tank was a relatively new design and had a far different profile than the Light and Medium tanks. The chasis of the tank could be configured to meet a variety of different roles. It is unknow how many of these tanks served during the Empire's invasion but Federation intelligence suggests at least four hundred of these tanks are involved.