1st Lt. Max Traveler had never really liked the T-100 Ogre, the Spetsnaz main battle tank. To him it had always been an ugly tin can on tracks since he had first since it on T.V. during a newscast of the Russian war with Kazakhstan in late 2018. In 2020, when he had been at the forefront of the JSF's invasion force into Northern Russia, he saw an Ogre up close for the first time and it was even uglier than he had remembered seeing in the news pictures. And now, in 2023, on American soil, it almost hurt to look at the one that was spinning its turret at his Pioneer platoon.

"Cover! Cover!" Traveler screamed as he jumped behind a burn-out hunk of what was probably an SUV. An enormous bang told the Lieutenant that the ugly tank had fired and an explosion followed by screams confirmed it had hit some of his men.

Still staying behind cover he looked around at the rest of his platoon. The majority of them were hiding behind the most solid piece of cover they could find; the others were either dead or dying. One of his troopers, who was actually a woman, (President Becerra had abolished all combat restrictions on women in 2022, after the Russians had captured all of Europe) had an AT5CQ rocket already shouldered and aimed at the tank. Sgt. Rachel Alonzo had always been the best shot with the rockets so she had been assigned to carry most of the platoon's supply of the AT5CQ's.

"Lock!" Alonzo yelled, signaling for the rest of the platoon to get as low in their cover as possible. Nearly the entire platoon had seen firsthand the incredible size of an Ogre death blast. A second later she fired and ducked herself, throwing the empty rocket tube aside. Traveler couldn't help watching the rocket as it soared, first upwards, just grazing the sides of some New York City's skyscrapers, and then dropping straight down in a top-attack mode. The rocket just missed the middle of the Ogre's turret, but rather hit more to the rear where the engine and, more importantly, the ammo compartment were.

The following blast was, as expected, gigantic. As Traveler quickly ducked his head, he could feel the heat of the explosion on the back of his neck. Slowly the burn sensation decreased and Traveler looked up to scan the street for any more hostiles. Breathing hard, it took him a bit before he was satisfied that the Russian's was fully out of action. Standing up, he inspected what was the rest of his platoon. He caught Sgt. Alonzo's eye and said "Nice shot, Rachel."

She smiled and in her native Spanish said "No puede ser más fácil!"

Traveler shook his head and said "You do realize that no one else in the entire company speaks Spanish, right?"

She laughed and said "Claro, claro. Anyways Lieutenant, what now?"

"For now, we hold out till command calls us back in. Have your squad repair our defensive positions as best they can. Tell Sgt. Rigg to have some of his squad help yours out."

Alonzo pulled a quick salute with a sharp "Yes, sir!" and went off to complete her orders.

Traveler sighed and leaned against the SUV he had used as cover. He pulled off his helmet and from his breast pocket he grabbed a pack of "Freedom Sticks", the only cigarette brand available in America since its ingredients were all grown or made inside the United States.