Today we ll be taking over a port off the coast of Amsterdam, Captain Fluke told us this morning, bright and early. I hadn t seen him anywhere near this serious in any of my time on the ship. You could tell that when he needed to, he could definitely mean business. This is a very important place for the Empire, Amsterdam s where they make most of their weapons, so if we stop their supplies from getting to the factories, they won t be able to combat us, or our other forces for very long.
If that can be considered a pep talk, then I guess it was a good one. Most of the recruits cheered, high fiving each other and smiling. I couldn t get excited. I high fived Cade, to hide my fear, but I d be surprised if he couldn t tell. But this is how all of them were for their first attack, right? I feel like I have to assume so.
This can t be easy, can it? We won t be able to just stroll in and take over. They won t give up. Fluke said it himself, this is where their weapons are made, so they ll be sure to protect the area. Imagine if they see us before we get there. Maybe they already know we re coming. They have to at least assume that the rebels would try to attack.
So, you ready? Joseph asked me. The fear was obvious on his face.
Um, no. Not really? You? I asked back.
I don t know, honestly. The last attack we did, my first as a part of the force, went well. But that was barely worth taking. We just cleared a few people off some islands. This, this is an actual target, and the Empire knows that. They ll protect it, whatever it takes.
That s what I feared. I responded. I don t know how I ll be able to kill anyone, if I even get the chance. These aren t the people I m mad at, they just happen to be on the other side. They re not the ones-
REBELS, GET READY! Fluke screamed, breaking us from our conversation. I looked off the side of the ship and saw the land, now much closer than before. I could make out the building and ships that lined its shores. SNIPERS, TAKE POSITION! CANNON OPERATORS, READY WEAPONS! he bellowed.
I froze, petrified, before realizing what was going on. This is it. We re attacking. I was the last of the snipers to get to the side, weapon ready.
Hurry your ass up, Hedgehog! We re kinda starting an invasion here! one of the other recruits yelled at me, I think he was called Marc. I tried to move quickly, loading the weapon, switching the safety, focusing the sights. I d done it all fairly quick in training, but that was without the pressure of a battle incoming. It was too real now.
I finally got my weapon ready, I was looking down the sights. A huge splash erupted from the sea about 30 yards in front of the ship. The city s first line of defense had started firing at us. Another splash, about 25 yards in front, and a bit to the right. Luckily for us right now, the first line seems to be pretty useless. I tried to focus on the towers, but the constant splashing in front of me and the cacophony of sounds behind me made it hard. I was looking into a tower, trying to steady my weapon when I see the gunner manning it fall to the ground.
Nice shot Link! I heard to my right. From what I ve heard, Link is the best shot we have. He never misses, according to Cade. I tried to focus on the tower to the right of the one that housed the now fallen soldier.
That was when the first armored truck arrived, with soldiers and machinery pouring out of it. All the weapons looked totally different from what they used to control the mobs back at home. These ones modified for a longer range, I assumed.
I moved my aim towards the group leaving the truck, took a breath, focused, and fired.
"Damnit," I muttered under my breath. Missed. About 5 ft over their heads. Another truck arrives. I tried to aim at a single soldier, instead of the mob. I focused in on one, thanking god I couldn't see his face. I know I couldn't get my finger anywhere close to the trigger if I could see my target's eyes. Two more trucks.
I tried to focus on the soldier, and as I put my finger to the trigger, I hear the horrible sound of metal bullet on human flesh to my left. As my weapon fires I turn to see who'd been hit. I can't see the wounded recruit between the medics now surrounding him.
I heard a deafening blast from the shoreline. Everything seemed bright. I looked towards the shore and saw a huge fiery explosion.
"MOVE BACK!" I barely heard someone screech over the echoing blast and the confusion of the recruits on the ship. The ship began to turn and drive away from the port.
"That was one bloody amazing shot Hedgehog!" Marc tries to tell me over the ruckus of the rebels, as he hustles to follow the medics with the injured sniper.
"What shot?" I try to ask, confused. I guess I wasn't loud enough to be heard over everyone else. I give up on the question and just follow him into the lower part of the ship.
As I walk down the stairs, I try to see who was hit. The recruits swarming around him make it seemingly impossible. I try to get a view but I keep getting blocked by others as they try to do the same.
Eventually, I get a good view. I can feel the color drain from my face.
It was Cade.