Preview of Chapter Six and Author's Note:

Author's Note: Chapter Six: The Charge is taking a little longer than expected to finish so I wanted to give you a sneak previous of the upcoming Battle of Pelennor Fields. There will be new weapons introduced and used in a realistic manner. By which, I mean the effects of said weapons on the enemy will be as close to the real thing as possible. In any case, there will be lots of action followed by a surprise twist. I won't give it away, but lets just say it will be different.

Now before I bring up the preview, I wanted to address some issues brought up by the reviewers. First, I want to say something about the call for letting the girls fight. I will only say, you will not be disappointed. Second, Eowyn gets a more important in this chapter as she does in "The Return of the King." So, she will not be limited to keeping her new cousin and friends in line. Finally, I will be using as much military terminology as possible so I'll include some of the explanations here.

1) RTO: Radio Telephone Operator

2) Aiming stick: When setting up an artillery battery, the crews will set up poles on either side of the piece to help the gunners aim their weapons for indirect fire. Thus a battery commander may tell his crews, "Right Stick fifteen", which means the target is to the right.

3) HE: High Explosive

4) Serpent Six: Mike's radio call-sign

5) Serpent Red Six: David's radio call-sign

That said, I'll turn back to finishing the chapter, which is up to 60 pages so far. So, enjoy the preview and tell me what you think.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Five miles west of Minas Tirith

Land of Gondor

0845 hours

March 16, 3019

(Middle Earth)

Mike, Earl, Xander, and their Rohirrim RTO galloped off to the second hill.  The Americans quickly dismounted as Mike called out to Xander, "Help Earl set up the fifty.  I'm going to take a look at the enemy lines."

"Sure, just be careful kid."  Xander said in a big brother voice.

Earl glanced back at his friend, "Uh Mike, remember, you promised your Dad that you wouldn't get near the fight."

Mike pulled out his binocular and began crawling to the edge of the hill.  "Don't worry; I'm just going to see what I can with the binoculars."

"Just don't do anything I would do." Earl said seriously

The teen crawled beside a bush and began looking over the enemy lines, noting the positions of various siege engines, catapults siege towers, and some creatures that looked to be elephants on steroids.  Satisfied with what he was seeing, the teen called out, "RADIO!"

One of his soldiers crawled quickly over to Mike and handed him the unit. Horsa, brother of Hengist, crouched down and sprinted over to the teen, and handed him the headset.  Mike took the receiver and began speaking, "Serpent Six to Serpent Red Six, come in Serpent Red Six."

"Serpent Red Six here, what the mission sir." David replied over his set surveying the field below his position

Crouching down beside his RTO and behind the bush, Mike continued, "Have you checked out the enemy positions? over."

"Yes Sir, I am spotting orcs at my twelve, and a line of something, really big elephant creatures at my nine...what do you advise....over."  David replied looking through his binocular that the massing army to his left

"Good, I want you to fire a spotting round at the center of the nearest rank facing us.  I will correct, over."

"Yes sir" replied the Rohirrim teen who did as David ordered

Almaric, one of the new recruits grabbed the smoke cartridge and attached the four charges to the base of the bomb.  He crouched beside the tube as his gunner made the necessary adjustments.  Finally he reached out and dropped the bomb into the muzzle.  A muffled whump was heard as the round was sent onto its target.

Mike was glued to his binoculars as the bomb detonated 20 yards behind his aiming point.  The white phosphorus bomb burst in a cloud of white smoke, flaming particles that doused any orc unfortunate to be nearby. The teen was so focused on his fire direction that he didn't notice his father and cousin ride up with the rest of the Rohirrim.  Instead he called out the corrections, "Right ten, drop twenty, FIRE FOR EFFECT.  FIRE FOR EFFECT!"

David listened then repeated the corrections to his crews.  "Right stick ten, drop twenty. Use HE, charge four."

Almaric pulled the first M720 high explosive bomb from the carrying case, set the fuse to near surface burst and added four charges to the base of the round.  Handing it to David, the recruit reached for a second bomb and repeated his actions.  The second ammunition loader on the mortar team began doing likewise for the other tube.

"What are you doing?  The king called to his son crouched on the ground.

Mike watched on as the next two mortar bombs exploded over the Orc's heads.  He called in, "Serpent Six to Serpent Red Six, your fire is on target.  Shift fire, 5 right, over."  So engrossed with his task, the boy didn't hear the king but continued directing the barrage.

The king surveyed the landscape as he saw a burst of light come from a mortar that had been set up on the opposite hill.  "I see you have started the battle without me." The king said as he began to call his riders to line up for the battle.

Mike lowered his binoculars and turned back, "Oh, did you say something?"

"I asked you what you were doing, but I know now, that you have started the battle without your father and kin," The King replied as the riders began to line up behind him. "Stay out the field my son and beware of enemy fire."

Mike nodded and turned back to spot the incoming artillery fire. "I could say the same to you.  Just be careful, I don't want to lose more parents.  Give me a minute's warning before you charge.  I want to break up the enemy's line."

"I will. We are beginning our line defense; I must speak to my men.  You have but a few moment until we will charge into the battle."  The king replied and began ordering his men into position

Mike nodded and raised his binoculars with his left hand and held the radio receiver with the right, "Serpent Red Six, Rohirrim about to charge in a minute.  The books say a good team can drop thirty bombs per tube within that time.  Let's see if we can break that record?"  

TBC

Well I hope you enjoyed that sneak peak into the fight. Stay tuned for the full battle scene in Chapter Six.

Merry Prankster, out