Now with less violence but more kinky sex and nudity for a cleaner and saner America (just kidding, if anything this chapter is more violent).
"Japanese"
"Chinese"
March 16, 2010; 0224 local time; Route 175, 20km north of the Bushi line, Occupied Japan.
Senior NCO (1) Feng sat in his vehicle as his unit re-deployed their PLZ-05 self-propelled howitzers along the side of the road. To the civilians who had not been evacuated, the vehicles looked like tanks, but their turrets were set to the rear of the chassis. Feng had received orders to move with his artillery battery to a better position to support the new offensive. The PLA would hit several spots at once, but only press hard in two places, the areas outside Ayabe and Fukuchiyama. The attack out of Ayabe was a feint, a ruse to make the Japanese think they were going for Kyoto rather than town of Tanba to the south on the way to Kobe and Osaka.
Forward observers had managed to infiltrate through the advance surveillance positions (derisively referred to as "the speed bump") of the line and were now relaying coordinates. "Qilin four to fire control, fire mission, enemy entrenched positions, grid reference twelve, sixteen."
"Copy that Qilin, fire mission confirmed for grid reference twelve, sixteen. Five rounds smoke on the way." The communications officer said before transmitting the coordinates to the artillerymen. The long barrels of the self-propelled howitzers raised to the sky as their crews prepared for the initial barrage.
The large guns weren't the only things being brought to bear against the defensive line. About five kilometers behind Feng's unit were the rocket batteries. The rockets could put out more explosives in a shorter amount of time than his howitzers, but they were slower to reload and not suited for sustained fire support.
March 16, 2010; 0229 local time; Hill 27, Hori, Kyoto Prefecture
Keitaro was dozing in the foxhole while Shinji stood watching the roads. The young man almost couldn't believe his eyes when he saw the first rocket, followed by hundreds of others. "ROCKETS!" someone shouted as the shrieking missiles began to impact.
Keitaro was violently brought back into reality as Shiji grabbed him and pulled him further down into the hole. "Get down, we have incoming!" There was little time to respond as the barrage intensified.
Illumination flares lit up the night sky as GDF forces prepared for contact. Keitaro peeked out of the hole and saw Chinese infantry, APC's and tanks moving up from Fukuchiyama as a second volley of rockets began to fly from behind the hills to the north.
"This is Echo two, seven, we have contact. PC's, infantry, and armor at Shiotsu. Requesting immediate support." A communications officer said into his radio.
"Copy that Echo, sit tight, choppers inbound. Artillery on standby awaiting your coordinates." The voice on the other end responded.
"Enemy forces approaching at grid reference Baker, two, India, five. Friendly position Charlie, four, Hotel, seven. Require immediate suppression." The radio operator said.
"Fire mission on baker, two, India, five. Confirmed." The radio said. A few seconds later, the first shell impacted, followed by others.
The cacophony of battle was all around Keitaro as he tried to fight. He set up the bipod of his battle rifle and started trying to pick targets. The defenses on the hillside were being saturated with suppressive fire. Keitaro could see muzzle flashes coming from the hills opposite the defensive positions, but they were out of range for his weapon. He looked down at the valley and saw movement there and along route 175. Keitaro could barely make out any sort of targets apart from the large vehicles and occasional infantryman. The APC's began closing the distance, using buildings as cover and saturating the hills with cannon fire. As they reached the foot of the hills, the hatches opened up and soldiers began to move up the hills.
"Infantry advancing! Redirect that '96!" An officer shouted as the crew adjusted their weapon. The Type 96 was a machine gun that could fire 40mm grenades. It was capable of discharging five grenades every second. The gunner adjusted the sights before letting loose.
"Automatic grenade launcher in the tree line, bearing 183 degrees. Take it out!" A Chinese officer shouted into his walkie-talkie as the explosives rained down on his position, inflicting gruesome casualties and driving men into cover. The turrets of two of the APC's rotated and opened fire with their autocannons.
Explosions erupted in and around the Type 96 emplacement. The survivors ducked into their hole and the gunner began trying to fire blind, but it wasn't enough to stop the advancing infantry. The PLA continued its advance up the hills, overrunning the most forward positions.
"Tachi two, actual (2) to Echo, reinforcements are en route, ETA fifteen minutes." A voice over the radio said.
"We can't hold them for fifteen minutes! Where are those damn choppers?!"
"Air support was rerouted to a breakthrough in Ayabe."
"YOU HAVE GOT TO BE SHITTING ME!" The comm officer shouted. "If we don't get any support there's going to be a breakthrough HERE!" An artillery shell went off in the background, as if to punctuate the officer's words.
"Understood, Echo, but support is stretched thin as it is. We're routing three platoons from Izumi, along with more ammo and whatever else we can get to you."
"Copy that. Echo out." The comm officer said, grinding his teeth in frustration.
March 16, 2010; 0246 local time; Temporary JSDF command post, Hill 27, Hori, Kyoto Prefecture.
The dual rotors of the three CH-47 "Chinook" helicopters kicked up clouds of dust as they landed in the makeshift clearings behind the crest of the hill. The back gate opened up and soldiers poured out, some carrying large boxes of equipment and ammunition.
An older man and three others moved to the temporary command bunker as the last of the soldiers disembarked. The man's rank badge featured a bar underneath three stars; he presented himself to the field commander. "Captain Ito with the 37th regiment, where do you need us?"
The Major in command of this stretch of the defenses motioned to a map. "We need two platoons to reinforce the areas here and here." He pointed to two spots half way between the bunker and the foot of the hill. "The third platoon will shore up defenses along this trench line here." The officer traced the area with his finger. The Captain nodded before he and his subordinates left the bunker to relay the orders to the rest of the reinforcements.
March 16, 2010; 0307 local time; Hill 27, Hori, Kyoto Prefecture
"WHERE IS THAT AMMO?!" Sergeant Takashi roared as he reloaded his weapon, he and many of his men were running dangerously low.
Bullets fell short of their mark in front of Keitaro's foxhole, causing both of the young men to duck inside. Shinji was hyperventilating, his hands shook, and the signs of tears were evident on his face. "We're all going to die here!" Shinji said, his voice shaking and panicked.
"Get a hold-!" Keitaro shouted, the last of his words interrupted by an explosion and shower of debris falling into the hole. "You said. . . tired. . . running. . . Fight!"
Fight. . .
The word reverberated in the teen's mind. Shinji nodded weakly before grabbing his rifle and rejoining the battle.
Incoming fire from both sides intensified, barrages from positions behind the hills were slowing down the Chinese advance. However, the PLA were still closing the distance. They were now less than 200 meters from the main defensive line. If they got much closer, indirect artillery fire would be falling dangerously close.
"Bayonets!" several officers shouted. Keitaro covered Shinji as he attached the blade to his rifle before the younger man returned the favor. More than just a weapon, the bayonets sent a clear message to the Chinese: the GDF was willing to fight up close, hand to hand if necessary. They would fight tooth and nail to defend this position and the PLA must be prepared to do the same if they wanted to take it.
The advancing Chinese slowed down, taking cover. A forward observer contacted fire control. "Qillin six to fire control, all units in position. Fire mission on enemy position, grid reference twelve, sixteen adjust fifteen degrees up and seventeen degrees East. Danger close."
"Understood Qillin, five rounds smoke on the way."
Several seconds later the smoke shells impacted approximately forty meters short of the main trench lines.
"Adjust forty meters forward and fire for effect." The observer said.
"Copy that Qillin. Adjust fourty meters forward, firing for effect." The coordinator responded. The Chinese guns slowed their pace in preparation for the next salvo.
"Hurry it up, their artillery has us zeroed!" The observer shouted as enemy shells intensified.
Back in the main trenches and foxholes, spirits were rising, they could see the Chinese taking cover and stopping their advance, one of the younger NCO's cheered shouting "The enemy is stopping, keep fighting and push them back."
"Quiet, that last ones were smoke rounds!" A platoon commander shouted at his exuberant subordinate. "Those bastards are zero-!"
The officer didn't have time to finish his sentence before the shrieks of innumerable shells and rockets rained down upon the positions. Everything the Chinese could muster was being thrown onto the defenders intending to break Japan's defensive lines again. Keitaro felt as if the sky was falling down upon them as he and Shinji ducked into the foxhole, praying to any god that would listen that none of them would land in their hole. Nothing he had experienced up to this point could compare to the sheer terror he felt, time seemed to slow down as the shelling continued, airbursts erupted in the sky several meters above the trenches scattering shrapnel everywhere. A fragment managed to lodge itself into Keitaro's helmet, giving his scalp a shallow cut.
No sooner had the airbursts stopped than smoke rounds shrieked and erupted. These, along with smoke grenades created a massive screen of smoke to cover the advance. Seconds after the smoke rounds fell, a cheer rose out all along the line through the smoke as the PLA charged forward, spraying suppression fire and firing rifle grenades. With guns blazing and bayonets flashing, soldiers began pouring from the smoke. They used a combination of cover, suppressive fire, and speed to rapidly close the gap.
"STEEL YOURSELVES! ANY MAN WHO RUNS WILL BE SHOT!" Takashi shouted, as a fresh batch of tracers flew from both sides. Keitaro ducked into the hole as more bullets swept past his position. "Shinji, are you alright?"
"I can't. . . I can't. . . I can't. . ." the teen said, his body curled into a shivering ball.
"YES YOU CAN!" The ronin yelled, grabbing the younger man's shoulder and shaking him
"No, I can't. . ."
"Then give me your ammo, I'm almost out." Keitaro said, reaching down and taking out one of Shinji's magazines.
Chinese lobbed grenades into the main trench, some of the explosions causing casualties inside while others were successfully kicked into the grenade sumps. The grenades still opened up gaps in the trench allowing Chinese soldiers to jump into the main trench, several of them falling onto the bayonets of waiting GDF troopers. The shorter QBZ-95 assault rifles used by the PLA were better suited for the close-quarters fighting of the trenches. The compact weapons were much easier to maneuver in the confines of the trench, giving the Chinese a noticeable advantage that slightly compensated for the rifle's lack of reach when it came to bayonet fighting. Chinese soldiers continued moving into the trenches and foxholes, those that made it inside were now mostly protected from heavy weapons and artillery. All along the line, PLA soldiers began fighting their way through the fortifications.
"I say again. Echo, how close are the enemy infantry?" the command center asked to the comm officer.
"Enemy soldiers are right on top of us in the trenches! If we don't get any reinforcements, you'll be able to ask to them yourself!" The officer shouted, with a hint of hysteria as both sides engaged in a brutal melee.
Keitaro saw enemy soldiers advancing on his foxhole. He chose to duck down and wait for them to pass. "Shinji, I need you to help me. Just this once. . ." He said, to his squadmate. "Stay down until I give the signal. When I tell you, jump up and open up with automatic fire on the left flank, I'll take the right."
"Alright" the panicked teen said weakly, nodding slowly. As he was nodding, something bounced into the hole on top of Keitaro. "GRENADE!" Shinji yelled.
Keitaro quickly knocked the explosive into the pit in the middle of the foxhole and rolled his rucksack on top of it in the hope that it would contain the lion's share of the shrapnel. Both men covered their faces with their arms and waited. The grenade detonated, spreading metal fragments, most of them contained by the pit and backpack, but one lodged itself into the underside of Keitaro's left forearm. The adrenalin coursing through his system meant that the man did not feel much, other than a bit of pressure on his forearm.
The two men knew that the enemy would be coming soon to check it out. Keitaro pointed to the lip of the trench and made a stabbing motion with his hands. Shinji nodded, readying his rifle.
A Chinese soldier moved forward preparing clear the hole with automatic fire, but as he approached the hole, Keitaro and Shinji both sprang out driving their bayonets into him. Shinji's blade struck into his inner thigh while Keitaro's managed to pierce the stomach. The surprised soldier fell forward, dropping his weapon and landing face first in the foxhole.
The breakthrough in the main trench was reaching Takashi's positions, "Hiro, suppress the left flank. Hamada, get some support to Urashima and Ikari! Kumamoto, get them some ammo!"
Tracers from Hamata's machine gun flew past as Kumamoto and two other troopers crawled forward. They took it in turns to move one man at a time to cover each other's advance.
Keitaro had used up the last magazine in his rifle and picked up the enemy soldier's rifle. Not having time to figure out the fire selection system on the new weapon, he just aimed and fired. The new weapon burned through its magazine in about four good bursts.
He ducked again, his hands fumbling around the magazine trying to figure out how to reload it. His fingers eventually reached a small lever behind the magazine. He pressed it and the magazine fell out. In the meantime, Shinji threw a grenade, intending buy them some time before the next group of enemies made it to their position.
Keitaro rolled the dead soldier over and removed one of his spare magazines, and after a bit of fiddling he managed to get it properly seated in the weapon. Before he could work the charging handle, he heard a shout from behind. "Urashima, Ikari! Ammo! Catch!" A satchel flopped into their hole near the dead soldier.
Shinji tore open the satchel and reloaded his weapon while Keitaro's fingers found the charging handle on the QBZ-95. He raised the captured weapon and began firing once more. He found the weapon to be unfamiliar, but it was sending bullets in the right direction.
The western flank of the defensive line began to collapse as Chinese soldiers overran the main trenches. The situation was getting bleaker by the second. "ECHO TO COMMAND! WHERE THE FUCK ARE OUR REINFORCEMENTS!? WE ARE GETTING TORN TO SHREDS OUT HERE. I NEED EVERYTHING YOU CAN THROW RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW!"
"Understood Echo, reinforcements have been delayed by enemy artillery. Your orders are to fall back to the secondary line. All available guns will support your retreat. They are ready to fire on your coordinates."
"DO IT, DROP EVERYTHING ON CHARILE, FOUR, HOTEL, SEVEN ADJUST FIFTEEN DEGREES UP AND FIVE DEGREES EAST! DROP THEM RIGHT ON TOP OF US IF YOU HAVE TO!"
"Understood Echo. . ." The officer said, his voice wavering a bit at the gravity of the situation.
After several seconds, the shriek of incoming rounds could be heard, striking the ground with eruptions of fire, smoke, and shrapnel.
"ALL UNITS FALL BACK TO THE CREST OF THE HILL! FALL BACK!" The message was relayed all along the lines as GDF troopers began to withdraw in another semi-organized fighting retreat.
"Urashima! Ikari! Get back here!Hamada! Lay down some suppressive fire!" Takashi roared, attempting to pull his squad out in an orderly fashion.
Several short bursts rang out from Hamada's machine gun, red tracers flying into the trees.
"Shinji, you first!" Keitaro yelled throwing a smoke grenade and firing a burst from his rifle. The teen was about to protest when a mortar shell landed inside Hamada's position, killing him and effectively silencing their main source of suppressive fire. "GO!"
The young man nodded vigorously as Keitaro laid down a long burst of automatic fire. Shinji made a mad dash to the nearest shell crater and jumped inside. "Keitaro! Come on!" He yelled, firing off a few rounds into the smoke.
Keitaro scrambled out of the hole, firing a few wild shots behind him before dashing past Shinji and jumping into the main trench. A wet, squishing sound came from under his boot as it landed in the fortification. Don't look. . . don't even think about it. . . he thought to himself as he turned around and fired rounds off into the distance. Shinji followed him, jumping into the abandoned machine gun nest.
Tracers from a Chinese machine gun flew past, causing the younger man to duck. When he looked back up, he saw Keitaro's body sprawled face down on the ground.
"KEITARO! GET OVER HERE!" Shinji shouted.
Keitaro didn't respond.
"Dammit! Urashima, get your ass over here!" Takashi bellowed, tossing another smoke grenade.
There was still no response, Shinji started running towards his fallen comrade.
"Ikari! Get back here!" The Sergeant ordered as another soldier moved forward to cover them.
Shinji reached Keitaro and attempted to pull him away. The young teen slowly dragged Keitaro's limp body into the nearest cover.
"Dammit, Ikari get back here!" Takashi roared.
"I'm not leaving him!" Shinji yelled from behind cover, preparing to carry the young man.
"Leave him behind, or we'll leave you behind!" The squad leader shouted as the incoming fire from behind the smoke screen increased.
Shinji's mind was torn. On the one hand was the man who had saved his life less than two hours ago, on the other was his own life. A nearby explosion rained debris down on their position. The young man steeled himself. "Forgive me. . ." He said quietly to the limp form before picking up his rifle and joining the rest of his squad.
(1) NCO: Non-Commissioned Officer, senior enlisted personnel (sergeants, corporals, etc.)
(2) Actual: A radio designation term for the commander. In this case "Tachi two actual", denotes that the speaker is in command of the unit "Tachi two"