The next morning, the base is bustling with activity. Squads grab their gear and rendezvous with their squad leaders. Crews run last-minute checks on their vehicles before they fire up their engines filling the base with the sound of rumbling engines. Gallian artillery has been firing non-stop for the past few hours pounding the Imperial lines with high-explosive shells. The Imperials started launching airstrikes to silence the artillery, but the Gallians have installed AA defenses around the base, although, they're extremely light only consisting of machine guns.

"Come on people! Ten minutes till kick-off!"

"Enemy aircraft!"

"Don't just stare at it! Shoot it down!"

Brooks raised her binoculars and spotted six airplanes coming in. She can clearly see bombs under their wings. The machine guns that have hastily been set up for AA open fire. Tracers fly upwards but none of them are close to the airplanes. They fly over their base without taking a single hit. "Alert the artillery base! They're about to have company!"

"We really need better AA guns."

"Not our problem!"

"It could become our problem!"

"Agreed! But there's nothing we can do about it!"

The infantry quickly got out of cover and continued preparing. "How are we looking Sam?"

"We're good to go sir." Vellers nodded, "Alright, let's move out." Their Firefly rolled out of its spot and headed to the exit of the motor pool. Tanks, M1PCs, and trucks are all pulling out of the motor pool making it very congested. Mechanics and tank crew walked, or in some cases, ran through the motor pool to reach their work areas or vehicles. To avoid running someone over, the tanks and troop carries moved slowly. It took around two minutes to leave the motor pool.

"Increase speed. We need to get to the rest of our company."

"Sir."

The engine revved higher as the tank drove around the outskirts of the base. Dozens of vehicles are already waiting in the plains around the FOB. Infantry mounted up on tanks and half-tracks alike. He noticed the leading vehicles start moving. "Our forces are starting to move out."

"Vellers, where are you?"

"Pulling up now sir."

"Good. We're getting ready to move out."

Vellers watched as their company mounted up. "Company! Move out!" With that order, the First Mechanized Company, along with the whole First Army, headed to what would be the largest and bloodiest battle of the war.

"This is Lieutenant Jackson, what's the status of the attack?"

"Imperials are dug in heavily Lieutenant! They've reinforced their positions overnight! We need reinforcements!"

"We're on our way. ETA is five minutes."

"Copy that! Out!"

Jackson turned out and raised his binoculars. He can see muzzle flashes and explosions as the battle rages. It looks like the Imperials defeated their attack and are counterattacking. "Double time it people! The Imperials are pushing us back!"

"How!? I thought most of their forces were concentrated in the center!"

"Those airplanes that flew overhead mush have alerted them!"

"Dammit! Makes our job harder!"

"They must have pulled forces to reinforce this flank! Maybe they weakened their center to do so!"

"Maybe!"

"I see Imperial light vehicles crossing no-mans land! All tanks fire on the move!"

Their cannons fired marking their arrival into the battle. Sadly, most of the shells missed as the crews had not been trained in firing on the move while at top speed. The lack of a stabilizer didn't help matters. The Imperials quickly noticed the armored force. The tanks dropped smoke and fell back with the infantry following close behind.

"Perfect timing sir! We were nearly overrun!

"Press the attack! Where the hell is our artillery!?"

"They were heavily damaged by the airstrikes!"

"Dammit! Tanks! Suppress the Imperial line!"

The tanks opened fire with their cannons and machine guns. Tracers zipped over the trenches while HE shells blasted the Earth upwards. The Imperials fired back with their anti-tank guns. "This is Lieutenant Jackson of Squad Fifteen! Is there any artillery able to provide support!? Over!"

"Stand by Lieutenant. We have a few guns still operational where do you need them?"

"Fire point Alpha!"

"Copy that. Rounds inbound ETA thirty seconds."

"All units slow your advance! Artillery fire inbound! ETA thirty seconds!" Their vehicles slowed but continued to advance. At the rear, the half-tracks laid down fire with their MGs. "Why are we moving so slow!?"

"We have an artillery barrage inbound!" In front of them, a Firefly exploded! "We're sitting ducks out here!"

"Dismount!" The fireteam jumped out of the M1PC and went prone. Other teams had the same idea they had and dismounted but most remained in their M1PCs. "I can't hit anything at this range!"

"Suppress the trench line! Accuracy doesn't matter!"

As she concentrated, Richard begged to differ. She squeezed the trigger and watched an Imp's head snap back. She searched the trench line for targets but with all the fire being sent their way the Imps are keeping their heads down. She spots an anti-tank gun, places her corsair on the gunner's head, adjusts for the distance, and squeezes the trigger. His head snapped back and his body disappears behind the gun. The gunner moves to fire, and she kills him. A tank round slams into the gun completely destroying it. Artillery shells started slamming into the Imperial trenches and the attack force started moving again. The infantry that dismounted quickly mounted back up.

The tanks stopped a good distance from the trenches so they won't be destroyed by lancers in the trenches. The M1PCs stopped once they were twenty meters from the trenches. Their infantry dismounted and rushed the trench line. With supporting fire from the tanks and M1PCs, they stormed into the trenches with minimal casualties.

"Enemy armor!"

"Spotted multiple light and medium tanks along with three heavy tanks!"

"Some of those tanks were part of the Imperial attack on our lines!"

"All tanks engage!"

Jess jumped into the trench with Sherman, Lewis, and Fletcher right behind her. A tank shell slammed into the Earth behind them showering them in dirt. They quickly moved down the trench. Suddenly, bullets landed at their feet! Jess fired the entire clip of her SMG down the trench before she dropped prone. Sherman crouched behind her and fired while Lewis stayed standing. Fletcher moved to the right side of the trench and fired.

"I'm moving up! I'll stay to the left!" She crouchwalked forward. Fletcher fire two more bullets and reloaded. "Did you get him?"

He nodded. "Good. I'm moving up with Jess."

Sherman moved forward and watched Jess throw a grenade. The explosion is lost in the sounds of battle. Jess leaned out and fired the entire magazine before taking cover and reloading. "What have we got!?"

"At least six Imperials down this trench! There's no cover between us and them!"

"Dammit! Lewis Flecther! Get up here!" They moved up to their position. Lewis peaked over the trench and cussed as bullets landed directly in front of him. He fired blindly over the trench. "Fletcher! Imperials about ten meters down this trench! Nail them with your rifle grenades!"

He nodded and attached the grenade to his rifle. He backed up, aimed, and fired. Sherman peeked out. "Short!"

"Jess! I need fire support here! Imperials are trying to rush us!"

She peaked out and watched two Imperials get killed by one of their tanks. A lance flew from the trench. She watched as it slammed into one of their tanks destroying it. Two of their light tanks fired their MGs and short barrel guns at the trench. "Any Imperial that isn't killed by that you shoot them!"

"Yes ma'am!"

"Excellent shot Fletcher! Cover me!" Lewis sprinted up the trench. Fletcher provided accurate fire killing two Imperials when they peaked out. "Cover me Fletcher!"

Jess moved up to Lewis who is engaged in a firefight with Imperials. She crouched down next to him and fired. She pulled the pin on a grenade and through it. It exploded five seconds later, and they rushed forward. They killed a wounded Imperial and a second who was trying to run. "Fletcher Sherman! Get up here!" They quickly moved up and watched their flanks.

"Friendlies coming up on your six!"

Jess looked over her shoulder. Two shock troopers and a lancer are coming up behind them. "We're with you ma'am!"

"Why are you in the trenches?" Lewis asked the lancer.

"I have a mortar lance. I can stay back and hit the Imperials."

"Excellent. Fletcher, stay back and cover him. Everyone else is with me." The five shock troopers moved forward leaving Fletcher and the lancer behind. He slung his rifle and raised his binoculars. He spotted an Imperial MG nest keeping their soldiers pinned. He pointed out the target and the lancer took aim. The lance flew into the air covering them in smoke. It slammed into the MG nest a few seconds later destroying it.

He started looking for more targets when a burst of MG fire forced him into cover. He peeked and saw an armored car. He motioned for the lancer to lay prone, and they crawled to a different position. "I really hope our tanks will deal with that!"

"Do you have AT grenades?"

"I do. I need to be closer though."

"Will the lance do any damage?"

"It might. It's only an armored car."

Fletcher stopped and peaked over the trench. The armored car is engaging someone else giving them a chance to strike. "Hit it."

The lancer stood up and fired. The lance arched through the air and slammed into the front of the car. It started backing up and fired on their position. "Did that do any damage!?"

"Yes." The vehicle suddenly detonated when a tank shell ripped through it. "Problem solved."

"Hell yeah!"

"I have a target. Anti-tank gun there."

"Not for long." He fired. The lance fell short. "Short. Adjust eight degrees." While he was reloading, the AT gun turned to them. "DOWN!" They hit the dirt and dirt rained down on them. Fletcher stood up and fired at the gun. Bang! Bang! Bang!

He ducked and the gun fired again. The lancer stood up and fired. It hit the gun destroying it and killing the crew. "AT gun destroyed! That will help our tanks!"

Fletcher looked down the trench that Jess and her fireteam went through. He found them engaged in an intense firefight around a strong point. "Jess and her team need support. They're engaged around that strong point."

"Copy that!"

Fletcher fired the last two rounds in his rifle before reloading. The lance slammed into the strong point. "Good hit. The Imperials are retreating."

"That's right! Run you cowards!"

"Let's meet up with Jess." They moved to the strong point and arrived just as the Gallian flag is raised and flying proudly. "Excellent work you two. Now we can push further into the trench line."

"Friendlies coming up!" More of their squad mates arrived at the strong point and started getting organized to continue their push. "Sergeant, good to see you."

"Kelley, Doyle. Did you see how the assault was going?"

Kelley shook her head. "No ma'am. Doyle might have."

"I didn't see much. I was focused on dropping Imperials. I think this is the only strong point we've taken though."

"Damn. I'd hoped the other squad would have made more progress. Doyle, stay here and provide sniper fire. You four hold this position."

"Yes ma'am!"

"Everyone else, move out!"

"Keep your heads down!"

"Imperials have a fucking machine gun in the trench!"

A scout peaked over to fire but was quickly killed by the MG. "Fuck! That MG is killing us!"

"It's not just the MG! There are four shock troopers as well!" He fired a quick burst and ducked down as bullets ripped into the boxes he was using for cover. The shock trooper next to him went to fire but was hit and fell down. There's blood pouring from a head wound. "FUCK!"

"We have to do something about that MG. York! Sharp! With me!" Grant backtracked with Sharp and York following. "What's the plan sir?"

"We get away from that MG, climb out of this trench, rush across open ground, and flank their position."

"That's crazy Grant! We're just as likely to die from this plan as from that MG!"

"If you have a better idea, I'm all ears."

"If we had some damn smoke grenades this would be so much easier."

"Well we don't." They stopped and Sharp raised his binoculars. "This is the best spot to cross. How do you want to do this Grant?"

"Cover each other as we cross. I'll go first. Ready?"

"Ready."

"Cover me!" Grant scrambled out of the trench and sprinted across open ground. Bullets landed around him but his sole focus is the trench that is rapidly getting closer. An Imperial scout stood up from the trench. Before he could fire, Grant jumped into the trench and slammed him against the wall. Grant followed up with multiple blows to his head and his body before smashing his knee into his face knocking him out. He checked left and right before stripping the scout of all his weapons and ammo. He singled to York and Sharp and started laying down covering fire.

His SMG clicked and he reloaded. He looked right and saw Sharp sprinting towards his trench. He jumped in two seconds later. "If that doesn't get your heart racing I don't know what will!"

"Cover York while he crosses!" They laid down cover fire and York sprinted into the trench. "Never want to do that again!"

"Yeah. Come on." They followed the sound of machine gun fire which steadily grew louder. Grant stopped and peeked around the corner. He can see the light machine gun and two shock troopers. He pulled the pin on the grenade and tossed it. BOOM!

Grant moved out and fired down the trench. York and Sharp followed behind firing as well. They moved up to the Imperial position and took fire. Grant took cover and fired back. "HOLD YOUR FIRE! FRIENDLIES FRIENDLIES!" Grant peaked over and saw his squad members. Thankfully, his return fire didn't wound any of them. "Dammit sergeant! You should have told us you were flanking that MG!"

"Slipped my mind! Let's get moving!"

"Sir! One of the Imperial strongpoints has been captured!"

Grant spotted the Gallian flag flying proudly. "Come on people! We're falling behind!" The fireteam moved through the trenches to another strong point. They reached a three-way split in the trench. "Come on!" A fireteam of four Gallians sprinted in front of them. "Hey! Hold up!" Grant followed after them with his fireteam close behind.

"AHHHHHHHH!"

A scream of pure agony reached his ears, and it was soon joined by three more. He picked up the pace and what he saw made his blood run cold. An Imperial soldier with a flamethrower is burning his comrades alive. He froze for a second watching as his comrades desperately and fruitlessly tried to put the flames out. He raised his SMG and pulled the trigger. The bullets hit his comrades ending their agony while another scout killed the flametrooper.

"Motherfucker."

"Animals," one of his squad mates spat with venom.

"Should have aimed for the tank Grant. Burned the fucker alive."

"I thought flamethrowers were banned after the First European War.

"They were. The Empire doesn't care."

"Let's keep moving." They walked past the charred bodies of their comrades, ignoring the smell of burnt flesh. They came under heavy fire as they approached the strong point. "Get grenades on that point!"

"Throwing grenade! Cover me!"

"Friendlies coming up on your six!"

"They have two AT guns in that strong point! We take it, we help our tankers in their fight!"

"Firing rifle grenade!"

Sharp ducked as bullets landed around him. A scout next to him is hit and ducked behind the wall. "You good!?"

"Yeah! Just grazed me!"

"Machine gun!"

The volume of fire kept the Gallians pinned allowing the Imperials to advance. Two shock troopers were killed to Sharp's left. "On your left!" Sharp spun to his left and crouched just as an Imperial turned the corner. He fired five shots all hitting center mass and killing him. He reloaded and a grenade is tossed toward them. "Grenade! Move!" Sharp dived into another trench. Seconds later, the grenade exploded.

Fletcher stood up and fired. Bang bang bang! Bang! Bang!

Ratta ratta ratta ratta ratta!

A hail of MG fire pinned him down. "We need that MG silenced."

"I'm on it."

"Hang on Richard, you'll need covering fire. Hey! We need to suppress that MG," he yelled to a shock trooper. "Got it! On your order!"

"Now!" They fired at the MG trying to suppress it and give Richard a shot. Beside him, Richard rested her rifle on the trench wall and sighed in. She sees the gunner and his assistant ducking down as bullets land around them. She squeezed the trigger and watched the gunner's head snap back. His assistant went to man the gun and she killed him next. "MG team down."

"Excellent work!"

"I can see our squamates pushing forward. I'll stay here and provide sniper support." She fired again. Sharp nodded and moved toward the strong point. When he got there, his squamates had already secured the strong point. "I want two teams on those AT guns! Turn them against the Imperial armor!"

"Sir! Imperials are counterattacking!"

"Hold them off! This is Gallian land now!"

"Grab that machine gun! We can use it against the Imperials!"

"Get on the line!"

"Here they come!"

The two captured AT guns are manned and turned against the Imperials. "Heavy tank spotted! FIRE!" The gun fired sending an AP shell screaming towards the heavy tank. The shell slammed into the flat frontal armor and failed to penetrate. "Damn!"

"Aim for the turret cheeks!"

"On it! Firing!" This time the shell penetrated killing the crew in the top turret. The heavy tank started backing off. "Excellent! Hit that medium tank next!"

"On the way!"

BOOM!

While the captured AT guns fired, the infantry are busy fending off a determined Imperial counterattack. A mortar lance slammed into the ground behind the trench. Besides showing them in dirt, it did nothing else.

Grant fired at the charging shock troopers. A jet of blue fire filled the trench. "COVER!" He dived away escaping an agonizing death. The screams told him others had not been so lucky. He tossed a grenade over the trench and heard the Imperials yell in alarm. When it exploded, he pushed out and spayed rounds down the trench line. He ducked into cover when his SMG clicked. Across from him, two shock troopers fired over the trench at the Imperials. They alternated fire, when one had to reload the other stood up and fired.

York and two more shock troopers moved up behind Grant. "We're with you sir!"

"Alright. Let's drive these bastards back! You two! Cover us!"

"Copy that sir!"

Grant moved forward and hugged the right side of the trench. A second shock trooper hugged the left side, and they crouched walked forward allowing two of their squad mates behind them to shoot as well. The Imperials are further down the trench laying prone or crouched down. "Get grenades down the trench!" The shock trooper next to him was hit and killed. Behind him, York fired a rifle grenade. It landed in the middle of the Imperials killing most of them and severely wounding those it didn't kill. "Move up! Move up!"

"Enemy aircraft!"

"They're coming in!"

"Heads down!"

Grant hit the deck as machine guns strafed the trench. The planes dropped their bombs and pulled up. Thankfully, the bombs missed. "Sound off!"

"I'm good sir! The strafing run killed our squad mate!"

"Damn! Grab his tags! You two get up here!" The two shock troopers moved up to their position and took cover. "It looks like we're holding off their counter-attack." While he was looking across the battlefield, he spotted three Gallians pinned down. "We get to that fireteam, help them out, and push to the next strong point. Move out!"

Huge explosions rattled their bones as their artillery hammered the Imperial defenses. "Hope this barrage makes our jobs easier!"

"Keep your heads down and keep moving!" The barrage continued to hammer the Imperials as they moved forward. "Contacts front!" With the element of surprise on their side, they quickly killed the Imperials in front of them. "Friendlies!"

"Thanks for the assist sergeant."

"Anytime. You're with us now. We need to capture the next strong point."

"Understood sir."

The whistling of artillery stopped their advance. "HEADS DOWN!" Shells slammed into the earth seconds later shaking the earth. "Is that ours or theirs!?"

"No idea! Keep your heads down! Let's move!" They crouchwalked toward the strong point as artillery continued to hammer the battlefield. A shell landed in the trench behind them. A scout fell onto one of the shock troopers knocking them both down. "You alright!?" The shock trooper stood up. "Yeah!" He turned to the scout and cussed. "FUCK!"

"What's wrong!?"

"Shrapnel is embedded in his back from the explosion! It doesn't look good!" He grabbed the scout's Ragnaid and used it. The wounds started to heal, and the bleeding slowed but didn't stop. He checked for a pulse. "I've got a pulse but it's weak. If he doesn't get proper medical attention soon, he'll die!"

"Get him back to our lines as quickly as possible!" He grabbed the scout and slung him over his shoulders. "On it sir!"

"We have to get to that strong point! Keep moving!" The artillery fire intensified. Two shells landed in front of them destroying a section of the trench. "That has to be ours!"

"At this point it's more of a hindrance than an asset!"

"It's keeping the Imperial's heads down allowing us to advance unopposed!"

"Yeah! Only it could kill us as well!"

"Everyone hold your position! We'll try to cross once the artillery fire ceases!" They held their position and crouched down as shells rained down around them. Two of them are watching their six. Finally, the artillery fire fell silent. "MOVE!" They stood up and sprinted through the destroyed section which offered no cover. Thankfully, they crossed without incident. "The strong point should be up ahead. Scouts, see if you can get a visual."

"On it sir. I see two MG positions and two AT guns. It looks like the Imperials are starting to pull back. We've captured most of their strong points."

"Then if we take this one, they might retreat. MOVE OUT!" As they approached the strong point their armor succussed in breaking the Imperial armored attack. They moved forward and assisted the infantry in taking the last strong points. One of their light tanks rolled forward and fired its mortar at the strong point destroying the MGs and the AT guns. Grant and his fireteam quickly secured the strong point and fired at the retreating Imperials. Smoke shells blinded the Gallians allowing the Imperials to retreat.

"All forces, hold your positions."

"Colonel, why? We have them on the run!"

"The attacks on the center and right flank are complete failures. Our attack is the only one to have gained territory. We are going to dig in and prepare for an Imperial counterattack. Out."