By the following day, all preparations were completed. The Edelweiss had been refitted by both Isara and Rikku. They needed to attack the city by the crack of dawn to meet the 48 hours that Welkin assured. The only problem left was how to attack it. Both Welkin and Noctis knew that attacking it from the bridge would be suicidal.
"All right, let's hear this brilliant plan. And it's too late to back out, boss-man. You got that? So let's hear it!" Largo peeled his ear drums.
"We're going to strike the enemy encampment on the east bank."
"Whoa, hold it. You're askin' us to die for you?! One squad ain't breachin' that bridge head, buddy boy! That would be suicide!" Rosie heavily protested
"We're not taking on the bridgehead. We're taking on this. The river. We use the fog as cover as we cross the river, then launch a surprise attack."
"Aww, c'mon! Is this just some game to you, boy-o? Swimmin' a couple of foot soldiers over there ain't gonna do much if we've got no tanks!"
"Don't worry, I've got that covered. Isara?"
"I've fitted the Edelweiss with water-resistant measures to allow for submersion. It will only hold for a few minutes, but it should be enough to cross. Rikku assured me that it will work. She's done every measures to correct it."
"Hold on just a sec. Ships come through here! It's gotta be too deep for a tank.
"We're covered. Look, see that over there?" Welkin pointed.
"What's that, grass?"
"Mistlereed. A tall aquatic plant found in the estuaries of some rivers. I noticed them when I came down to observe the river. This stretch runs shallow. Shallow enough for a tank to drive across. Trust me on this."
Largo still wasn't confident about this plan, no matter how much Welkin tries. Just then, Ignis came along with Cloud.
"Lieutenant Caelum. The boys have finished requisitioning the boats."
"Good job, Ignis. Now, In addition to Welkin's strategy, I will take Sergeant Scientia and Strife here along with T-4 Argentum and Privates Kisaragi, Trepe and Dincht and we'll cross the bridge ahead of you guys to soften up resistance by the eastern bank. We'll radio in once it's secured. We also have Mortar Support. I've placed Corporal Amiticia to provide us with the needed support."
"Mortars? Where'd we get mortars?" Alicia asked.
"Rikku had them taken with her. We have at least four available for use today."
"Nice work, Noctis. That should ease up our troubles."
"So First, Lieutenant Caelum will take a squad to put Imperial troops out of commission by the banks of the Eastern side. Then they'll radio in for the Edelweiss will cross over and clear out any Imperial patrols and reinforcements on the shore. Then Lieutenant Gunther will send up a flare, signaling the rest of us to follow by boat. Lastly, Corporal Amiticia will stand by with the mortar teams."
"Good. My transmission sign will be King Six and Gunther's callsign will be Fox One. Remember the names once Argentum reports in."
"Roger!" Everyone replied.
"Right. Now, let's get started. I'll see you on the other side. Noctis, be careful."
"You can count on me Welkin."
By the early hours, at exactly 4:00am, the sun was still not up. Noctis had one hour to soften the eastern banks of the river. On the other side; Welkin, Alicia, Rosie, Isara, Largo and the other squad members were watching. The mortar teams on the other hand stood by and watched.
Back on the eastern banks, Noctis' team made it with no one noticing where they are. Noctis took out his knife and placed the guard standing by the planks to sleep before dragging him into the water. Ignis, Cloud and the others got out of the boat and proceeded to take cover. To their left were two Imperials patrolling. The another guard was sleeping by the wall.
"Kisaragi, you and Trepe go and silence that patrol. Dincht, you cover me while I try to go for that guard by the wall. Do it quietly."
Sneaking around the patrol, they were conversing about how they were going to win in the war as Quistis and Yuffie overhear. Quistis and Yuffie went as close as possible, drawing their knives and killing the two patrolmen. On the other hand, Noctis got off the planks and went inside the guard house. Noticing he was sleeping, he needed to give him an eternal sleep. When Noctis did, he sliced off the cables that lead to a control box for the alarm, sabotaging it.
Once their deed was done, Noctis rallied.
"Nice job. So far so good. Now, Prompto, go radio in Welkin. Tell them it's safe to cross."
"Got it."
Prompto took the handset from his radio which he carried from his back. He proceeded crank the lever to receive transmission from the other radio which was carried around by Isara.
"Fox One, this is King Six. Reporting in, over."
Rosie grabbed the handset and proceeded to answer the transmission.
"King Six, this is Fox One. Go ahead."
"The eastern banks of the river is secured. It's safe to move the men across now. Over"
"Understood. We're moving. Over."
"Roger. Out!"
With the confirmation that the eastern bank was secured, the men went to their boats while Welkin prepared to drive the tank to the river. Every one grabbed their ores and started to row across the river. The Edelweiss on the other hand was easily swimming across the river without any problems at all.
"Haha! It seems she's really gotten her fins right off the hook." Welkin exclaimed.
"Don't thank us." Rikku voiced. She was going to be the loader for the Edelweiss.
"We still have a long way to go, Welks."
"Gotcha." Welkin turned to Rikku. "Rikku load in High Explosive."
"High Explosive loaded."
A few minutes later, there were two Imperial guards that were patrolling by the road near the banks of the river. The two had not noticed the presence of Noctis' clandestine sabotaging of the three guards and of the alarm which could have alerted all of the Imperials awake out of their bed. On the road nearby, two Imperials stood guard.
"You hear something?" The first guard asked.
"Yeah, I do. What is it?"
"Beats me."
Suddenly, the water starts to ripple. The ducks that were floating around it before started to move and fly away. Out of the blue, the Edelweiss rises from the water. The two guards were shocked but were too late to run. They were ran over the the threads of the tank, killing them instantly.
"The Edelweiss swims just fine. Fall in, 7s!"
With that, Welkin took the flare gun from his pocket and fired it up the air, signalling the others on the other side to advance and get across the river by boat.
"Alright! That's the signal! Let's move!" Alicia ordered.
"Move! Move! Let's go. No time to waste." Irvine encouraged.
The squad immediately got onto the boats and started to row across the river. They had to move quick or else the guards would be alerted by their presence. When they got to the eastern banks of the river, they were relieved but tired from all the rowing. When everyone was present, they rallied near the Edelweiss.
"Fantastic job! Looks like the enemy is still unaware of our presence. This may be the chance for a surprise attack. We'll take them out with their trousers down." says Noctis.
"You're crazy. You know that, right?" Largo said, referencing Welkin.
"All right, that's everyone. Ready to move out, squad?" Welkin inquired.
"Incoming message from Squad 1 leader Faldio Landzaat on the west bank, sir. Enemy company in motion, presumed headed east across the bridge toward our position." Isara informed.
"A full company? That's bad news for us." Alicia voiced with a hint of worry.
"We'll have to move fast. We're taking that camp before the cavalry rolls in!"
Noctis took matters at this moment.
"Alright then, I'll lead First Platoon and Second Platoon with me. We'll move towards the road and catch those Jerries by surprise. Dincht, Kinneas; make sure you cause diversion to drive the enemy's attention from our position. Once the diversion sets off, that will be the signal for Welkin's tank to move in." Noctis strategized.
Knowing that the diversion was sound, Welkin believed in his friend's strategy.
"Sound like a plan, Noctis. I will take T-4 Argentum with me. I will need him to pinpoint vital positions for Rikku's mortar team. Third Platoon and Fouth Platoon will stick with him. Largo, you best get ready for armored encounter."
"Sure will, boss-man."
"Alright, Take down the bridgehead as quickly as possible! Squad 7, move out!"
With that, Noctis took First and Second Platoons into a small alley where it provided them excellent cover and a view of the small Imperial establishment by Randgriz Boulevard. Noctis immediately sent Zell and Irvine to plant explosives by the lorry beside a building. Without being seen, they managed to plant the explosives by the fuel tank before the Imperials had the time to turn around. Meanwhile, Welkin was standing by with Prompto and some troops while waiting for the diversion to sound off.
"Argentum, take Alicia with you. See if you can scout targets for Rikku."
"Right o."
With that, Prompto and Alicia left by the area where the Edelweiss was. Prompto and Alicia moved onto the third street where there was a ruined building and some Imperial Guards patroling.
"Keep your head down, Melchiott. You wouldn't want us to get spotted don't ya."
"Of course not. I'd be in trouble if we did."
Passing by street by street, they soon got to another ruined building and it gave them a vantage point on Randgriz Boulebard. There was a sniper by the building adjacent to them in the second floor. Prompto noticed that the building gave the sniper a significant vantage point.
"Crap!"
"What's wrong?" Alicia asked.
"See that sniper on the second floor, he could gun down the squad quite easily from there."
"Good lord! That's gonna be a problem."
"Not on my watch."
Back on Noctis' side, Zell and Irvine managed to get back in cover to watch their handy work set off. They went back to Noctis and reported in.
"Did you got them planted?"
"Yes sir! Those explosives should go off right about... now!" Zell calculated.
However, the explosives didn't go off.
"I said now!" Zell voiced again.
Suddenly, a loud bang sounded from the street nearby. The lorry exploded and this certainly dragged the Imperials attention.
"Up the action bucks!" Noctis voiced.
With that, his platoons gunned down the Imperials going toward the lorry, causing confusion among their ranks. Back with Prompto and Alicia, the two heard the diversionary act and this gave Prompto the signal to radio in the sniper's position.
"Easy One to Queen Six, do you read me?, over" He transmitted.
"Queen Six to Easy One, send in coordinates, over." Jann voiced, who is apparently bearing feelings for Largo.
" Enemy sniper by the white building. Turns out it may be a small enemy barracks. Need mortar fire on that position, over."
"Roger that, over."
Back in the mortar pits, Jann immediately transferred the coordinates sent in by Prompto to Rikku.
"Private Rikku, Enemy sniper and barracks by the white building. Requesting mortar support."
"Left buildings, third from the left. Charge three. Range 600." Rikku ordered.
"Round off!"
The shells left the mortar tubes and was soon firing around the white building where Prompto saw the sniper. It's occupants soon were running away as soon as the mortars rained down on them. The sniper was however not-so lucky. His window was pulverized by a mortar that left Rikku's mortar piece.
"Well done." Alicia complimented.
"Alright, let's get out of here."
The two then rendezvous'd back with Welkin and the group who were already moving in on the enemy positions near the bridge. By now, Noctis' platoon has managed to gun down the Imperial troops around the diversionary area and are about to link up with Welkin's column. Welkin managed to drive his way towards the bridge area where the Imperials are attempting to defend the bridge at all cost.
"Alright, we have to link up with Welkin's column. First Platoon, Second Platoon, Let's move! Rosie, watch my back."
"Gotcha, Noct."
Noctis and Rosie along with their platoons soon started to leave the diversionary area and to rendezvous with Welkin's force. However, they were met with stiff resistance as the Imperials moved in reinforcements from the barracks by one of the houses.
"Damn! These bastards aren't going down without a fight." Rosie exclaimed.
"Do we have any other choice?" Noctis replied.
Noctis turned to Homer.
"Private Peron, give me your grenade."
"Yes sir!"
Homer tossed his grenade onto Noctis. With the grenade in hand, Noctis prepared to unpin it in order to take out the cluster of enemy reinforcements bogging them down.
"Rosie, cover me!" Noctis voiced, before going out of cover.
"Suppressing fire!"
Noctis then left his cover and dashed towards the enemy. The Imperials could not fire back at Noctis because his allies were covering him and that they were too suppressed to even fire a single shot. This gave Noctis the opportunity he needed. As he was nearing the enemy positions, he threw the grenade as far as he could and landing on the Imperial positions in front of him before hitting the ground. The explosion came off and clusters of Imperial troops were taken out.
'Wow. Prince Charming is unbelievable.' Rosie thought, seeing at his courage to brave incoming bullets.
"First Platoon, Second Platoon, on me!" Noctis rallied.
While Noctis was more successful in being able to take out the Imperials on his end, Welkin's detachment is met with stiff resistance. Imperial reinforcements were raining down on his force and that they couldn't move in. This drastically affected Welkin's time table into taking the bridge.
"Welkin! The Imperials are getting in reinforcements." Alicia voiced.
"Jeez. We're gonna have to keep fighting. We have to take that bridge as soon as possible or else we're doomed."
"Where is our mortar support?" asked Tifa.
"Still firing."
Back in Rikku's area, the mortar team was firing non-stop. Shell after shell ejects out of the tubes until finally they ran out.
"Rounds complete!"
"Rounds complete!"
"Wakka, more ammo! Go go!" Rikku ordered.
Back in Welkin's sector, the Imperials just kept coming. That was until the noticed movement from their left. To their joy's delight, it was Noctis. His force managed to fend back off the enemy forces coming into the frontlines.
"Sorry we're late. Did we miss the action?" Noctis asked.
"You're just in time. But we need to think of a way to make these Imperials retreat. We don't have much time. Those reinforcements will be here soon."
To the right of the bridge entrance, Noctis noticed the bridge house that contained the drawbridge's control. Realizing that they had no time to lose, he took matters into his own hands.
"Welkin, order the Squad to lay down suppressing fire. If I can make it to that control room, I could just be able to operate that drawbridge and stop reinforcements from coming over. "
"Noctis, don't. There's too much enemy concentration in there."
"Believe me, Welkin. Now's not the time for hesitation. It's either that or this."
With the threat of the enemy reinforcements growing ever stronger, Welkin couldn't object. He had to believe in him.
"Alright."
Noctis nodded and reloaded his Tommy before he ran out into the open of raining bullets.
"Squad 7, covering fire!"
As soon as his squad was giving him the support he needed, Noctis dashed towards the control room as he fired full-auto. By the sandbags, the Imperials were defending the area around the control room. They were protected by sandbags.
"To the left, someone's charging!"
Noctis immediately grabbed for cover as soon as the Imperials were trying to focus on him.
"Goddammit!"
He then took a grenade off his chest and moved to unpin it before throwing it onto the Imperials by the sandbags. Once it exploded, he made a mad dash towards the control room and managing to get in before the Imperials could even attempt to gun him down. The rest of Squad 7 could not believe that Noctis' mad dash to the enemy lines would actually be the signal of the end of the Imperial threat.
"He's done it!" Ignis bellowed.
"I don't believe it... He actually made it!" Largo exclaimed. "That mad prince is as mad as boss-man."
"Welks, Noctis' made it!" Isara exclaimed.
"Nice work! We've occupied the enemy encampment at the bridge's end!"
"Now all we gotta do is wait for him to open the bridge up."
Inside the control room, there was a large lever to the left by the windows. Noctis correctly knew that this was the main lever to operate the bridge's control to rase it. The lever was tilted to the left and by tilting it to the right, it meant that the drawbridge would raise up. Noctis switched the lever to the right.
"Shit! A whole regiment. We can't hold on against them." exclaimed Cloud.
"No. Hold on, look at the bridge. It's starting to move."Aerith pointed.
"Hell yeah!" Homer exclaimed.
When the bridge was raised up, all hell broke loose for the Imperials coming across towards them. Infantry troops ended up drowning towards the cold water with their lungs drenched in salt water because their equipment was too heavy. Tanks fell towards the river and even crushing a few unlucky infantry men. Lorries fell into the same fate. About 2/3rds of the Imperial strength was crossing the bridge. Which meant that Squad 7 could easily outgun the remaining strength they had. The Imperials had no other choice but to retreat.
When the smoke had cleared, the damage done to the Imperial regiment was seen on the river. There were many bodies on the water and some ended on the banks of the river. Lorries were seen flowing away with some having tumbled to the other side. Tanks were turned to their side. The damage had been done.
"Hell yeah!"
"Woohooo!"
"Alright!"
An exchange of hi-fives were soon seen among the squad.
"Alright boys, let's get out of here and meet up with the Captain."
With that, Squad 7 left the bridge area and went into one of the buildings for a brief rest and recovery. The day belonged to the whole squad on that morning. Of the whole Squad 7, only Squall was wounded due to the shrapnel he had taken from a mortar round during the attack on the Western Bank of Vasel.
For Welkin, it was obviously a huge relief… Well, it was.
A/N: Hey there! So apparently on the part where Noctis is raiding, I thought that it wouldn't really fit the part but taking reference that this is a conflict with various WW2 references, I ought to make Noctis' raiding team as a sort of a reference to the Special Air Service. (IRL, one of the most decorated special forces in the world. And it's a part of the British Armed Forces as well.) Aside from that, yeah, I wanted to put some WW2 equipment but some like the Thompson and Bren are made by Rikku given that Gallian Military Equipment as well as other Europan Arsenals have some guns that aren't based on any WW2 weapons so I ought to put a plot and used Rikku's Al Bhed (which the tribe is known for making numerous machineries and technology) identity as a way to make a character that could really invent stuff and even vehicles. (Also, Rikku is one of my favorite characters :) ) Anyway, Chapter 8 is currently in production and it's coming soon!